by MandyG » Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:45 am
Hi Margaret,
I'm sorry if those you are speaking for did not understand the reason they were banned. I'm not sure what "Administrator email" you are referring to, but there is only one email address specifically linked to this forum, No-Reply(at)TheParrotForum.com. It is not checked and/or used for any purpose other than to send automatic messages to members when they join the forum. I'm sorry if you or the others thought they were being ignored by this email address, that is not the case, it simply is not and cannot be used or even checked for new emails. Hence why the name is "No-Reply".
Please see the following forum rules. I hope they can answer your questions. Also, please feel free to copy and paste these rules and share them with the individuals who still have questions.
These are our forum rules. Please take a moment to read them because your ability to participate in this forum is contingent on your adherence to these rules:
7. Moderator actions such as banning, blocking, locking and deleting hinder learning. However, there are spammers, rule breakers, and trolls, and we will use these methods as a last resort to maintain peace and goodwill on the forum.
8. No advertising, commercial use, or spam. Administrator and moderators have final say in what is considered advertising. Selling or exchanging live birds, cages, or parrot supplies falls under this same category and is not permitted. For the safety of buyers, sellers, and birds alike, the forum does not permit or facilitate any transactions between members or posting of classified ads.
The loose definition of spam is, "posting things or links with the primary purpose of promoting other sites rather than participating in discussions on this forum".
The individuals that have been banned were not "picked on" or "banned without reason". They were in direct violation of rule #8, and therefore, rule #7 came into effect and they were banned as a last resort to end the harassment and spamming of the other members of this forum. Private Messaging privileges were removed to prevent further spamming, this was to ensure the spamming would cease while allowing the individuals to continue participating on the forum and joining the discussions. The administrator and moderators had grounds to ban immediately after the first sign of spamming, but the individuals had been active members of the forum and the decision was made to allow, and welcome, them to continue participating. When the spamming continued, the individuals were banned as a last resort to protect the other forum members.
I sincerely hope the above information answered your questions.