All Members Please Read - Suspension and Ban Policy

[John Bishop]

Below is the Cafe Policy concerning Warnings, Suspensions, and Banning.


1. What constitutes behavior that warrants a warning?

Anything that is negative enough to disrupt interactions on the site.  Or, if the activity is mentioned as inappropriate in any fashion by any moderator or senior rank.  Or, if a moderator agrees with the complaint of any member that the posting is inappropriate or offensive.

2. How warnings are to be given.

A warning should be given once.  Any moderator has the authority to issue a "in thread" warning.  That's their job.  A simple general "in thread" warning like "please get back on topic" or "please discuss this in a respectful manner" should be given so everybody knows that the moderator staff is monitoring things.
A follow-up PM warning should be sent to the offending party by the moderator assigned to the section, or a senior moderator.  This PM should point out the possibility of a suspension if the behavior continues.
If the assigned moderator is uncomfortable in sending a PM warning to a member who out ranks them, then they should request the assistance of a "senior moderator" or "adminstrator".
All PM warnings are to be  BCC to the adminstrators (John Bishop & Rob Poelking) for record keeping purposes.

3. What constitutes behavior that warrants a suspension?

Failure to heed a warning from the moderator staff concerning the type of behavior described in section 1.  In rare cases there may be behavior that is so offensive that it warrants immediate suspension or banning.

4. How long suspensions are to be for.  And who makes the decision to suspend a member.

30 days first offense, 90 days second offense.  If a third offense happens, either 1 year suspension or full ban.  Again, bahavior could be offensive enough that a second offense will be enough for a full ban.
A discussion and vote should take place in the moderators section.  Voting will be done over a 72 hours period, so all moderators have the opportunity to review the incident and vote.
A simple majority vote decides.    
 

5. What constitutes behavior that warrants a ban?

(a) Continued unacceptable behavior as decscribed in section 1, after a warning and suspension.
(b) Immediate bans of anyone posting obscene or offensive material, and spam.  This applies to new members who have joined for the sole purpose of posting this material.
(c) If a regular member posts something that he/she may have thought was OK, but others take offense to, then the warning, suspension, ban procedures should be followed.  

6. How the final decision concerning a ban is made.  

In case of (a): A discussion and vote should take place in the moderators section.  Voting will be done over a 72 hours period, so all moderators have the opportunity to review the incident and vote.
A simple majority vote decides.    
In case of (b): a administrator needs to act immediately to remove the material, and ban the new member.
In case of (c): the material should be immediately moved to the "sin bin" by the first moderator seeing it, and then a discussion takes place in the "moderators section".

[NYKaju]

Very good to have things like this laid out in black and white. Keeps things orderly and respectful as they should be. Thank you for taking the time Professor (as well as whomever else helped organize these standards).

Only question is that although it is very clear concerning negative or disrespectful remarks that disrupt the forum, what of genuine disagreements between two or more parties? This can often get heated if left unchecked. Of course we all hope that things remain respectful nonetheless -as obviously everyone means well, and no one here intends to be malicious- but what steps should be taken if say one member disagrees with a majority of others and the discussion becomes contentious?

Again thank you for making these matters clear.

[John Bishop]

Very good to have things like this laid out in black and white. Keeps things orderly and respectful as they should be. Thank you for taking the time Professor (as well as whomever else helped organize these standards).

Only question is that although it is very clear concerning negative or disrespectful remarks that disrupt the forum, what of genuine disagreements between two or more parties? This can often get heated if left unchecked. Of course we all hope that things remain respectful nonetheless -as obviously everyone means well, and no one here intends to be malicious- but what steps should be taken if say one member disagrees with a majority of others and the discussion becomes contentious?

Again thank you for making these matters clear.

Of course it would be impossible to have a written policy in place that would address every possible problem that may come up.  So any member has the right to notify a moderator if they think that a person or discussion is being disrespectful, in-appropriate, or offensive.  These complaints will be discussed and evaluated by the moderator staff.   
Our moderator staff ( http://www.kajukenbocafe.com/smf/index.php?topic=9.0 ) includes high ranking representatives from all the branches and major methods of Kajukenbo.  So we feel that all members are fairly represented, and will be treated fairly.     
 

[NYKaju]

Gotcha, thanks again.