[Discussion] Punishment for darthdavid

[Joe]

OK, a lot of people, both moderators and regular members, are upset about his little April Fool's joke (here), both because they don't think suicide threats aren't a funny joke, even on Aprils Fool's Day, and also because it was blatant attention whoring. I believe some punishment is in order, so that's where you guys come in.

I would personally prefer a permaban, but at the very least he should get a more offensive custom title, in my opinion. A tempban would also be an acceptable compromise.

[Surlethe]

In addition to the disgusting April Fools' Day joke, he also, just today, picture spammed two Testing threads (here and here). SirNitram has been kind enough to remove the images, but the fact remains that he used "Two images, Each one is 64000 pixels in the long dimension and 1 in the short" (from here) in an annoying prank which was apparently a "consolation prize" for missing the April Fools' Day spamfest.

At this point, I don't know how colorful darthdavid's history here is, so I don't know that a permanent ban is entirely warranted; however, he should've known better than to try an April Fools' Day joke on suicide, and he should've known better than to post excessively large images simply to fuck up the formatting.

[Note: all links above are to Testing threads]

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Having had my mercy threshhold carefully calibrated, I suggest that darthdavid be thrown to the lions after being doused in A1 steak sauce.

Err, wait. No. But his "joke" was the utmost in tastelessness, and while the table-breaking and image spamming of the Testing threads was downright obnoxious, if we are to start nailing people for picture spam then there are a couple of other users notable for that we ought to be hauling in front of the Senate as well. But a random sampling of his posting history turns up a user whose contribution to the board seems just far enough above background noise that I cannot recommend a permaban.

However, I am all for revocation of avatar and sig privileges, and a post-count reset.

[RedImperator]

I'm thinking tempban. And a nice custom title for the next douchebag who thinks it's cute to fuck up a thread's formatting on purpose. It was funny and clever when Uranium did it. It's neither when someone with a quarter the wit and a tenth the brains copies it.

[Connor MacLeod]

I have no particular use for the fuckwit, but if Red thinks a tempban is appropriate, I'll concur with his suggestion.

[CmdrWilkens]

I'd argue that av and sig proviledge revocation would be a minimum and I'm very much in favor of the tempban. ONLY the fact that he has been a worthwhile poster on occasion stops me from consenting to permaban. For anyone outside the senate who reads it I've been to the edge of suicide personally and if you want to in any way come close to mocking it through jest then you better clear it or I will rain the fucking wrath of god upon you.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Alright. I'll suggest a temp-ban, a revocation of avatar and sig privileges, and a post-count reset. Maybe an offensive title like . . .

On second thought, he just made a "Woe is me, this might be goodbye if the Senate bans me" thread in Testing

Something about that post rubs me the wrong way, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

So all that at the top would be the very minimum to be considered. Frankly if he's going to whine about possibly being banned, then I don't really see a reason not to oblige him and show him where we keep the lions.

[Connor MacLeod]

I'd argue that av and sig proviledge revocation would be a minimum and I'm very much in favor of the tempban. ONLY the fact that he has been a worthwhile poster on occasion stops me from consenting to permaban. For anyone outside the senate who reads it I've been to the edge of suicide personally and if you want to in any way come close to mocking it through jest then you better clear it or I will rain the fucking wrath of god upon you.

I think I remember that, but I've had a number of friends suicide (one kinda did it almost in the same way DD tried passing off as a joke) and I agree, I don't consider suicide a joke like that. It wasn't funny.

[Connor MacLeod]

On second thought, he just made a "Woe is me, this might be goodbye if the Senate bans me" thread in Testing

Something about that post rubs me the wrong way, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

Thus far it doesnt sound as if he's going to be permbanned or anything: I think what he's doing is trying to garner sympathy or something ridiculousl like that, like we're supposed to feel sorry for him (Boy, did he pick the wrong board for that kind of thing. We eat our own for breakfast with a side of bacon routinely)

[Beowulf]

Tempban and a CT.

[Edi]

ONLY the fact that he has been a worthwhile poster on occasion stops me from consenting to permaban.

He's been worthwhile when? All I recall is a history of blatant attention whoring, so I'd favor a permban, but it seems that the majority is more inclined to be lenient and give him a temp ban. So, temp ban, loss of avatar and sig and a custom title of "Pathetic Attention Whore" should be sufficient.

Edi

[Surlethe]

I would concur with a short temporary ban, a derogatory custom title, and a revocation of signature and avatar privileges. I also think we should institute a zero-tolerance policy for future offenses, especially jackass attention-whoring ones like the AFD joke. The general line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior is very clearly defined in the rules; if he is in doubt, there is a very helpful moderating staff who, I'm sure, would be willing to clarify a specific situation by PM if he asks. As far as I'm concerned, if he so much as flops a toe over the line after this, I will vote for a ban with a clear conscience.

[Publius]

The April Fool's Day "joke" was in remarkably poor taste, suicide being a particularly humorless subject. He appears to be genuinely, if clumsily, attempting to apologize in his "Me=Retarded" thread, and his words at least indicate that he is aware of his error in good judgment (the fact that he is not attempting to excuse himself does at least separate him from the more obnoxious malefactors to have been banned from the site). In that light, a permanent banning does not seem necessary; a temporary banning is more appropriate, along with the loss of avatar and signature privileges.

[The Yosemite Bear]

well he's a kid, and a stupid kid. but figure a temp ban would be appropreate.

[The Yosemite Bear]

I'd argue that av and sig proviledge revocation would be a minimum and I'm very much in favor of the tempban. ONLY the fact that he has been a worthwhile poster on occasion stops me from consenting to permaban. For anyone outside the senate who reads it I've been to the edge of suicide personally and if you want to in any way come close to mocking it through jest then you better clear it or I will rain the fucking wrath of god upon you.

I think I remember that, but I've had a number of friends suicide (one kinda did it almost in the same way DD tried passing off as a joke) and I agree, I don't consider suicide a joke like that. It wasn't funny.

yeah my own history is filled with a few attempts years ago. It's a stupid teen act....

[Joe]

The April Fool's Day "joke" was in remarkably poor taste, suicide being a particularly humorless subject. He appears to be genuinely, if clumsily, attempting to apologize in his "Me=Retarded" thread, and his words at least indicate that he is aware of his error in good judgment (the fact that he is not attempting to excuse himself does at least separate him from the more obnoxious malefactors to have been banned from the site). In that light, a permanent banning does not seem necessary; a temporary banning is more appropriate, along with the loss of avatar and signature privileges.

That apology is meaningless, as it only came once he knew his case was before the Senate and he had to play CYA.

[Sonnenburg]

Still, I'm inclined to think he's learned his lesson. I think a perma ban is a little too far; the temp/avatar/sig idea strikes me as being fair.

[Joe]

A member who I won't identify just sent me a PM that he was deeply, deeply offended by the "joke", having family members that committed suicide.

[Knife]

Still, I'm inclined to think he's learned his lesson. I think a perma ban is a little too far; the temp/avatar/sig idea strikes me as being fair.

His joke was in bad taste and due to the sensitivity of the issue, I agree he needs a smacking. However, perhaps posting with a CT with something in the way of 'tasteless prank', no avatar, no sig would press the point better than a temp ban.

We brand him, let the plebs rub the salt in, sort of speak. Just an idea.

[Publius]

A member who I won't identify just sent me a PM that he was deeply, deeply offended by the "joke", having family members that committed suicide.

There is no question the "joke" was reprehensible and deserving of punishment. It was thoroughly tasteless, offensive, and boorish, among numerous other adjectives. It was offensive even to people who have not had family members commit suicide. That is why there is really no question whether or not he ought to be punished; it seems that the Senate is of one mind on that subject. Really the question is whether or not he deserves to be removed from the board entirely, or given a sort of permanent probation. In light of his record of some positive contribution, and of his seemingly genuine (if belated) apology and willingness to accept punishment, it seems preferable to allow him to remain, if only in a diminished and unprivileged state.

[Son of the Suns]

It was a tasteless joke, but quite frankly not something to be perm banned over (and that's comming from someone who has had several family members and friends committ suicide.) I'd say temp ban with a warning to think a lot harder about what he posts in the future before hitting the submit button.

[CmdrWilkens]

ONLY the fact that he has been a worthwhile poster on occasion stops me from consenting to permaban.

He's been worthwhile when? All I recall is a history of blatant attention whoring, so I'd favor a permban, but it seems that the majority is more inclined to be lenient and give him a temp ban. So, temp ban, loss of avatar and sig and a custom title of "Pathetic Attention Whore" should be sufficient.

Edi

He's been an attention whore but in a couple of the N&P threads and OT threads he has actually contributed real discussion content. It certainly falls in the midst of the background chatter but its just enough in my mind to keep him from perma-ban status. The "Pathetic Attention Whore" title would seem to be about right though.

[The Yosemite Bear]

not to mention it's not the first time someone has done death in the family or other serious issues as a "Joke" and I recall we dealt swiftly with them.

[Surlethe]

I received a private message regarding this thread early this morning. The sender explicitly requested I keep it anonymous:

As someone who had been down the road DarthDavid pretended to walk the final mile of, I was highly annoyed by his behavior this AFD. I'm probably here today only because I had the guts to confess to my parents that I was thinking of suicide after a disasterous first semester at college and coming home to news of my grandfather's death. DD's stunt dredged up a lot of old crap I am not pleased to have to weather again.

I have just received another private message:

DD's nonsense was not a temporary brain-fart. He sent this to me a day or so after last year's April Fools <removed upon request>:

Since everyone is so tasteless anyway I figure it won't be lowering the bar too low If I fake my own death. Starting 2 days before april fools. I'll ban everyone from sdnet who isn't in on it from my instant messaging accounts so they won't see me when I'm online then I'll make a phoney post to testing claiming to be a family member who found the forum in my bookmarks and wanting to let everyone know that I passed away. Then on april 3rd or 4th I'll come back and let everyone know it was all an april fools prank.

I told him it was a bad idea, but apparently he didn't listen. I would have forwarded this to a mod on the 1st, but I wasn't on the board.

This member has also requested to remain anonymous.

Edited at 10:30 am DST to include second private message.

[SirNitram]

Frankly, whatever miniscule contributions he made are not enough to earn any pity of respite from me. He blatant ass-covering doesn't buy anything either, not without a buck-fifty to help cover the coffee bill.

I find tempban, sig and av removal, and a final warning to be the minimum acceptable, myself.