[Takeshi]

Hello. Could we have a little explanation about account suspension please? What is it?

I've been noticing the ''account suspended" on two new members with less than 100 posts, it's just worrying me because I don't know what I don't know, they seemed like decent folks. Is it always an administrative decision? Can a member ask for it for some reasons?

What I really like to know is that, what are the chances that they'll come back and post on the same account? I hope you get my meanings of my questions on this post.

[DocJohn]

Sorry, we can't discuss why another member's account has been suspended, nor offer any further details or information. If the account is suspended, they cannot come back under that account. If they try and create a new account while under suspension, we usually will suspend that new account as well.

Suspensions only happen when a member has repeatedly violated the community guidelines, despite our best efforts to work with them to keep their posting within our guidelines. Suspension is an action of last resort.

Sorry I can't be more specific than that.

[Takeshi]

Thanks for taking the time to respond, it's just sad that things like this are happening. I'm okay with having no psychotic symptoms, others can get suspicious, like where are the good guys on PC, were they agents?

Personally, I was just learning tons from this new-now-suspended member's post, I already miss that person, the frozen account is good, I can still look it up.

Guidelines and the unseen motives, things could/does get us emotive.

Suspension is an action of last resort.

A semblance of truth sufficient to procure for these shadows of imagination that willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith. ["Biographia Literaria," 1817]

Life seems so cruel sometimes, I understand I understand, yet the lines are always blurry. The truth is that you can be more spécifique than that, yet you choose not to....

Originally Posted by Takeshi

Hello. Could we have a little explanation about account suspension please? What is it?

I've been noticing the ''account suspended" on two new members with less than 100 posts, it's just worrying me because I don't know what I don't know, they seemed like decent folks. Is it always an administrative decision? Can a member ask for it for some reasons?

What I really like to know is that, what are the chances that they'll come back and post on the same account? I hope you get my meanings of my questions on this post.

thanks for posting this. I wanted to know too! (you saw my post in the other thread, I bet)

john, i'm not sure if you can answer this or not, but how long do suspensions last?

why not just delete the account if the member can't come back

[DocJohn]

Suspensions are variable depending on the type and severity of the infraction, lasting anywhere from 1 day to forever. If someone came back to us with a "forever" suspension a year or two from now and wanted us to reconsider, we typically would give them a chance if we believe they are honestly going to act differently and demonstrate a new understanding of what they did wrong in the past...

Suspensions are very rare. I'd say 99.999% of members understand it when we PM them something of concern where they violated the community guidelines. It usually goes no farther than that PM exchange.

this is all so facinating (to me at least)

thanks for sharing

[Gus1234U]

remember, too, when looking at the post history of a 'suspended' member, that there may be 'deleted' posts that we can't see (i hope).

Originally Posted by Gus1234U

remember, too, when looking at the post history of a 'suspended' member, that there may be 'deleted' posts that we can't see (i hope).

That's true, also there can be incidents which have happened in chat or via PMs which may have been in breach of guidelines.

Let me ask you this: are you guys more lenient towards people who have been members longer or have helped more people?

I only ask this because I've seen newer accounts get suspended for saying things that are relatively mild (unless something that was more severe was said in chat/IM of course) compared to things that I've said on here when I was in one of my little moods that only got me a PM from an Admin.

Also, I've heard of having one's account placed in moderation as a punishment. How or when does this typically happen? Wouldn't this make sense as a way to "deal" with members who abuse the rules or whatever before resorting to suspension? Or am I understanding something incorrectly?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

Let me ask you this: are you guys more lenient towards people who have been members longer or have helped more people?

I only ask this because I've seen newer accounts get suspended for saying things that are relatively mild (unless something that was more severe was said in chat/IM of course) compared to things that I've said on here when I was in one of my little moods that only got me a PM from an Admin.

Also, I've heard of having one's account placed in moderation as a punishment. How or when does this typically happen? Wouldn't this make sense as a way to "deal" with members who abuse the rules or whatever before resorting to suspension? Or am I understanding something incorrectly?

I know Im not a moderator or anyone you may be directing this too but thought I would point out something.... just because someones account says its suspended doesnt always mean the moderating team did it. I have noticed more times then not when someones account says its been suspended that member has decided to take a break or use the suspension as a way of deciding whether they really want to leave psych central. they purposely asked that their account be suspended due to they could not trust their self to actually take the break that they needed.

My point now that I know this is sometimes how suspensions work I no longer get worked up over the fact that someones account is marked suspension.

also somewhere, maybe even in this thread, I dont know for sure since I havent reread this whole thread... usually if its an administrative suspension other ways have been addressed through pm with the member that got suspended. from what I have read before on this suspensions /bans are a last resort not the first thing that happens.

my point if you got a pm about a problem and you try to take the steps the team asks you to help fix what ever problem it is then you dont have to worry about being suspended.

my suggestion is if you fear you may get suspended pm a moderator and they will help you understand their administrative process.

[DocJohn]

The community guidelines apply to all members equally, regardless of their seniority or position (even admins and mods must follow them). Having said that, we may weigh in a member's overall efforts in the community when deciding on an administrative action.

We have a system of increasing levels of action for a member who continually violates the community guidelines. It starts with a warning. We often give second and third warnings after that, if the behavior continues and is not severe enough for anything else. After that, when it's clear the member either can't bring their behavior inline with the community guidelines or refuses to do so, they may get a short account suspension (1-3 days). We can do this community-wide, or we can do it for chat-only.

If the member still isn't getting the message about the seriousness of their behavior and how it is disrupting the community and negatively affecting other members, the suspensions increase. We usually quit after 2-4 week suspensions, since it has become clear at that point that no amount of time away from the community is going to help the situation.

We never, ever do an account suspension lightly, and wait to hear from most members of the community support team before taking such a serious action.

You do not know why an account has been suspended. It is likely not because of something relatively mild they said on the forums or in chat (because we just don't do that). We cannot go into specific detail about specific members because it would violate their privacy (and our community guidelines).

Hope this sheds some light on the process.

Best,
DocJohn