Policy regarding forum rule-breaking and account suspensions

[SFX Moderator]

Hi there

We have asked our reader mods to institute a multiple-strike policy with regard to inappropriate behaviour on the forum going forward. Here is a summary of that policy.

FORUM DISCIPLINE

* Rulebreaking not deemed to be deserving of an instant ban, such as personal insults or repeated spamming, will first be handled with a polite warning. The forum user responsible will be emailed, and the offending post will be edited or removed.
* A second offence will result in a formal warning (by email, not posted on the forum) that if such behaviour is repeated the person will have their account temporarily suspended.
* A third offence will result in the temporary suspension of the forum member's account. This suspension will last for two weeks.
The forum member will only be re-admitted if they accept that they broke the rules and do not break the rules again (ie by logging in under alternate usernames, causing a nuisance to the SFX team etc)
Before their account is reactivated they will be emailed a reminder of the forum's rules and will have to reply saying that they have read the rules, agree to abide by them, and understand that any further infringements will result in a permanent ban.
* A fourth offence will result in a permanent ban. At this point, their account will be completely deleted.
* We still reserve the right to leap straight to the suspension stage or hand out an instant, permanent ban if we feel the situation warrants it - for instance outrageous libel, racist/homophobic posts or threats of violence.
* The disciplinary process will be conducted in private between the individual concerned and the SFX team, by exchange of emails, not via postings in threads on the forum.
* Censures and formal warnings issued prior to this announcement will count towards future disciplinary decisions.
* All existing bans issued prior to this announcement will stand.

Please note: we reserve the right to amend this policy in the future at any time.

For a reminder of our guidelines and terms and conditions, please check out the threads here:
http://forum.sfx.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=10

Thank you.