Second chances

[Hispo]

This is the kind of initiative I would have not expected to see from the administration, so congratulations to all the users who will have a chance to get their cases reviewed and may become part of the community again.
Though, there has been a handful of users whom I am not sure whether they are completely deserving of another chance, to my mind comes to what happened to naim027, for example. I believe he had already been given several chances and yet, he decided to avoid his ban and use several alternative accounts to post around here, I never knew whether he was banned again after people discovered what he had done, but anyways.

I am also assuming that, even though some user could be allowed to come back and participate here again, does not necessarily mean others are forced to change their negative feedback on that user, right?
For example, if someone was banned around a year ago because they committed plagiarism and because of this thread that person is forgiven and allowed to post again, those who red-tagged them are supposed to feel compelled to remove such negative feedback or that would be independent of the decision of the administration and only come down to the personal point of view of each user?

[1714476029]

1714476029

[Sexylizzy2813]

I am also assuming that, even though some user could be allowed to come back and participate here again, does not necessarily mean others are forced to change their negative feedback on that user, right?
For example, if someone was banned around a year ago because they committed plagiarism and because of this thread that person is forgiven and allowed to post again, those who red-tagged them are supposed to feel compelled to remove such negative feedback or that would be independent of the decision of the administration and only come down to the personal point of view of each user?

I don't think the tags would be removed after they have been pardoned for their offense. But I feel those tags should also be removed from the account (if there's any that comes with the banned account) like making it look like a brand new account. Well the way I see it, is like those who issued the tags should also be part of this project that's if the account that comes with a tag needs there presence.

[digaran]

Plagiarism is a forum moderation concern, trust feedback left for such cases is interfering with moderation's policy, if someone on DT has tagged people for that, well, it's better to keep the tag on so that admin could blacklist them from DT election, or they could simply remove the tag. It's their choice.

[JollyGood]

I would suppose members that have been banned and not returned to the forum will be unaware of the amnesty but alt-accounts and account farmer would have been expected to take advantage.

As we approach one week before the festive holidays, there are still only two members that have asked for a reprieve. One is a lesser known member Nathrixxx and one is account farmer NoorulHuda: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5477510.msg63334400#msg63334400

[EarnOnVictor]

I am also assuming that, even though some user could be allowed to come back and participate here again, does not necessarily mean others are forced to change their negative feedback on that user, right?
For example, if someone was banned around a year ago because they committed plagiarism and because of this thread that person is forgiven and allowed to post again, those who red-tagged them are supposed to feel compelled to remove such negative feedback or that would be independent of the decision of the administration and only come down to the personal point of view of each user?

I don't think the tags would be removed after they have been pardoned for their offense. But I feel those tags should also be removed from the account (if there's any that comes with the banned account) like making it look like a brand new account. Well the way I see it, is like those who issued the tags should also be part of this project that's if the account that comes with a tag needs there presence.

An offence is an offence, such people should even be happy that they are back online, though some would by now have their alts actively working, but regardless, it is a welcome development for them to be able to have access to the forum again. Many had built strong reputations but needed to start from scratch, I believe this is very welcome news for them. Such are those who were in dire need of this reactivation, which is evident by the way they often pleaded to restore it. And for the accounts to now be fully restored, their offence shouldn't go on totally unnoticed unless they are not guilty of it. People can continue to read their profile and get to see the offences committed so that it will discourage others from committing such.

I only feel for those new people who were banned for plagiarism on a mistake note, though the offence can't cause any more issues if the person indeed improves. Finally, even in campaigns, they get to check mostly your current status months and not your past months' status, and if the person could improve truly, less than 6 months is enough to prove and justify that. So, let the accounts speak for themselves.

[Hewlet]

It's that time of the year again... and it's at least as good a time as any to reflect on both the good, and the bad; to think about how we can do better in the future; and also to... forgive. Regarding that last one, we've decided that for a limited time, we will be considering unbanning users previously banned for plagiarism.

This is not a blanket amnesty. We take plagiarism very seriously. Not just any banned account will be unbanned, not all sanctions will be lifted, and we'll be watching the unbanned users like hawks.

Here are the requirements:

• You must have been banned already for an extended period of time, at least 6 months.
• You must point to at least 1 really good, constructive post you've made.
• A ban on wearing a signature will be added, equal to at least 2 years minus however long you were banned.

How to apply:
If you already registered an account to post in Meta for a ban appeal then simply reply to this thread.
If you didn't register another account send an email to this address: amnesty_2023_7ecwa@bitcointalk.org

Example info to include:

Code:

Username:
Constructive post:

We will post all of the unbanned users in this thread. Hopefully in the future we'll look back on this as proof of the value of forgiveness and second chances. (Otherwise, maybe we'll look back on this as a reason not to do it again in the future.)

Enjoy the Holidays and Happy 2024 everyone!

this is a very good initiative and I'm grateful some people whose account where banned could get their account back and learn from their mistake.

Although I know that it would be difficult for some persons to get access to this information since they might have left the forum for a while now.

I still wish then the best of luck.

[Zenmimddar]

Username : Kodec5

Constructive post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5465506.msg62788703#msg62788703
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5462777.msg62674617#msg62674617

[Sexylizzy2813]

I am also assuming that, even though some user could be allowed to come back and participate here again, does not necessarily mean others are forced to change their negative feedback on that user, right?
For example, if someone was banned around a year ago because they committed plagiarism and because of this thread that person is forgiven and allowed to post again, those who red-tagged them are supposed to feel compelled to remove such negative feedback or that would be independent of the decision of the administration and only come down to the personal point of view of each user?

I don't think the tags would be removed after they have been pardoned for their offense. But I feel those tags should also be removed from the account (if there's any that comes with the banned account) like making it look like a brand new account. Well the way I see it, is like those who issued the tags should also be part of this project that's if the account that comes with a tag needs there presence.

An offence is an offence, such people should even be happy that they are back online, though some would by now have their alts actively working, but regardless, it is a welcome development for them to be able to have access to the forum again. Many had built strong reputations but needed to start from scratch, I believe this is very welcome news for them. Such are those who were in dire need of this reactivation, which is evident by the way they often pleaded to restore it. And for the accounts to now be fully restored, their offence shouldn't go on totally unnoticed unless they are not guilty of it. People can continue to read their profile and get to see the offences committed so that it will discourage others from committing such.

I only feel for those new people who were banned for plagiarism on a mistake note, though the offence can't cause any more issues if the person indeed improves. Finally, even in campaigns, they get to check mostly your current status months and not your past months' status, and if the person could improve truly, less than 6 months is enough to prove and justify that. So, let the accounts speak for themselves.

Quite alright but at the same time some may not even see it as an opportunity for their send account to come back to life, while some might see it as another chance of getting a second account to flex the Forum even more.
On the other hand what you said is true true, their offense should be seen as a scar not to only other members but to the owners too (let me say in a case of taking loan and not paying) so that if should incase they think of trying what got the account to be banned they'll have a rethink, you know we have people who find it difficult to change.
The account can be saying something different while the users might be thinking of something different too, while I said that is because some account might be banned by mistake and the user couldn't think of a way to undo what he has done but to say, "it's a mistake they'll understand" but it doesn't work that way.

[JollyGood]

I could be wrong but to my knowledge there are a total of now just three requests for bans to be removed. If the account has little to no rank, maybe the account farmers are now simply focusing on other things otherwise the requests would have been much higher. What is the deadline for this thread to be closed or to stop accepting second chance requests?

[Cyrus]

There is no end period set as of yet.

So far we've received ~17 requests by email. I've been waiting a bit to get a baseline - to avoid the risk of being too strict/lenient. Whatever the case may be, it's almost impossible to please everyone at the same time and would like to remind everyone that it's easier to ban than to unban.

Here are the unbanned users as of yet:

• kokoska
• Eugenar
• Merit.s

[LoyceV]

Here are the unbanned users as of yet:

• kokoska

Correct link: kokoska

[Cyrus]

Fixed, thank you LoyceV!

[gregofdoom.]

Username: gregofdoom


Post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1448069.msg28008592#msg28008592

Post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2431344.msg24918808#msg24918808

Post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1811194.msg20381998#msg20381998


I've already apologized many times for my mistake and now I'm doing it again, I'm sorry.

[JollyGood]

I have to say 17 is more like the number I would have expected but there are three banned members asking for a reprieve in the thread. I wonder why the applicants decided to make contact with admin asking for a second chance via email. Could it be because they did not want their current accounts to be associated with the banned account or is there something else behind it?

There is no end period set as of yet.

So far we've received ~17 requests by email. I've been waiting a bit to get a baseline - to avoid the risk of being too strict/lenient. Whatever the case may be, it's almost impossible to please everyone at the same time and would like to remind everyone that it's easier to ban than to unban.

Here are the unbanned users as of yet:

• kokoska
• Eugenar
• Merit.s

[Smartvirus]

I'm referring to all the scheming, conniving, alt-accounting, merit-groveling weasels that are anything but honest and only here to extract as much wealth from as many different sig campaigns and bounties as they can get themselves into.

I think that many of those won't even get ban lifted due simple reason that they won't be able to submit one very good constructive post.

Lol,,, you really got me laughing my heart out with this.
Well, probably yeah they wouldn’t get the chance except for a few. Bought accounts are those I’m referring to in this regard as previous owners might be grounded enough to have laid some good foundation that has been parasitized on by current users that endured the ban. A time frame for valid, constructive post would help.
Still, I wish the means to application is one that requires you to get really creative. This will be some means to sieve them shaft from the straw as, they would have a hard time making sense of anything.

Meanwhile, it’s still a sensible thing to do for some cut backs to give users a means to redemption and pride in their attached users. Hope this doesn’t become some annual event though else, there would be schemers along the way.

[Catenaccio]

Fixed, thank you LoyceV!

You only fixed one post, there are two posts to fix.

This post was fixed but OP was not fixed.

Here are the unbanned users as of yet:

• kokoska

[SatoPrincess]

Hope this doesn’t become some annual event though else, there would be schemers along the way.

I don’t think admin plans on making this a onetime thing. I believe this is going to be an annual event, so far only 3 out of 17 accounts have been unbanned which tells me the applications are critically reviewed and evaluated before approval. To be honest, I expected more applications because there were a lot of plagiarist caught last year, I think most of the accounts were not up to full member rank, that’s probably why they are not bothered about getting the account back.

[Stalker22]

Could it be because they did not want their current accounts to be associated with the banned account or is there something else behind it?

Perhaps they do not have alt accounts but read the forum as guests? 

But to be serious, it is logical that they do not want to expose their current account, given that they are most likely ban evading all this time.

[JollyGood]

Yes it is logical, I was just trying to ascertain the mood of those participating in the thread to see if something wonderful theory was going to be put out there

But what sort of message will the forum admins be sending if members that are using an alt-account will now get at least one of their accounts unbanned because that will then give them access to at least two accounts.

At the end of the process, if only three accounts from 17 applicants have been given a reprieve then that is a very good (low) number as I would not like to see dubious account operators make a return.

Could it be because they did not want their current accounts to be associated with the banned account or is there something else behind it?

Perhaps they do not have alt accounts but read the forum as guests?  

But to be serious, it is logical that they do not want to expose their current account, given that they are most likely ban evading all this time.

[digaran]

Is there any admin, staff around here to clear something up please? Is it Ok for DT members to interfere with moderation rules/duties? Such as tagging people for something like AI generated post, bad post quality etc?

What I'm trying to convey, hear me out please, it doesn't matter what our differences are, what degrees and education we have, we are all human beings deserving to live in peace and harmony, we all have our short comings, our flaws but we are always trying to improve and advance, some might be slow, some might be fast, but without care, patience and tolerance from matures, adults in our societies, none of us would be here, if we want to see progress in a community we should care and respect everyone. Only with kindness and leniency we can teach, violence has never worked.

Some people might have difficulty in adapting, but when they see there is a need for it, they will try to be better, so it's not cool to have a few individuals dictating how others should behave or post by using neg or neutral tags.

So is it against "forum" rules to do that or not? This is not about trust system being decentralized etc, you either accept such policy applied by some DT members or you don't.

If it's accepted, then we should all apply it to our behaviour as well, if not, then nobody should be exception.


A reminder from recent history, Hitler used to kill/burn disabled children, children with mental issues. So in a way calling people shitposter and treat them like garbage by using tags and verbal insults, is the same thing, to bash people on the head all the time saying they are garbage, it won't give them any chance to grow and learn.


I'd say if Stephen Hawking lived during WW2, nazis would have killed him as well.

Here is a joke written in sig space of a joker
"Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”

Very funny, he just appeared on my radar today. 😉