Policy on banning members?

[percy]

I seem to miss the reasons for the bannings,but really miss the contributions the banned ones make.
I have learnt so much from them.

[robbo24]

FYI - there are actually rules for the forum: http://www.sharetrader.co.nz/misc.php?do=showrules

I've highlighted some of my favourite parts. Although, I do wonder how an anonymous pseudonym can be defamed (in terms of intra-member fights! ) unless by some innuendo a reader can reasonably figure out who the victim is. Just saying.

To boil it down for you, Sharetrader is like living in Somalia and the STMOD (who is a fairly reasonable kind of person it seems) decides whether you live or die:

By accessing, using and posting material on Tarawera Publishing Ltd's ("Tarawera") share information web site ("Sharetrader"), you as the User agree to abide by the following terms, conditions and rules ("Agreement"). While Tarawera invites Users to engage in open discussion and presentation of views on Sharetrader, Tarawera and Users agree to seven basic rules designed to maintain Sharetrader as an interesting, informative, and legally permissible forum:
1. Users will not interfere with the use and enjoyment of Sharetrader by other Users (for example, by harassing or threatening another participant of the message boards, including the use of expressions of bigotry, racism, sexism, hatred, or profanity);

2. Users will not use Sharetrader to conduct any activity that is illegal (such as misleading and deceptive conduct) or violates the rights of others, provide instructional information about illegal activities, or promote physical harm or injury against any group or individual;

3. Users will not use Sharetrader to advertise or sell products or services (including financial products and services such as securities) to others; or for spamming purposes to promote or encourage members to purchase products, services, or membership recruitment to others; doing so may incur a fee
4. Users will not post or transmit material that is libellous, defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, harmful, threatening, or abusive, that violates the property rights of others (including without limitation copyright or trademark), that violates the privacy or publicity right of others, or that is used to circumvent manufacturer-installed copy-protection devices, including digital watermarks and registration numbers for software programs;

5. Users will not post or disclose any personally identifiable information belonging to children or displaying material that exploits persons under 18 years of age;

6. Users will not impersonate another User or Tarawera staff member; and

7. User shall not post information on the site if they are a licensed investment adviser or representative of a licensed investment adviser.

Tarawera has no responsibility for the content of any material posted by Users and Users are individually liable for the accuracy and authenticity of their postings. User profiles and any content posted by Users contains the opinions and views of theirs or others and Tarawera is not responsible for such content. Users should also be aware that it may be difficult to identify and locate the person making postings therefore taking legal action may not be possible.
If a User violates this Agreement or if Tarawera believes in good faith that any portion of the material a User posts is infringing any copyrights or proprietary rights after Tarawera becomes aware of such breach, Tarawera reserves the right in its sole discretion to:
1. edit or delete in whole or in part such User's posted material appearing on Sharetrader;

2. refuse access to all or portions of Sharetrader to such User; and/or
3. terminate such User's right to access or use and/or membership.

[BlackPeter]

Cheers for reminding us. I guess most of these rules make a lot of sense - and the reminder is justifiable from the viewpoint of the operator (and given that they pay the bills, they may as well pick the tune). Not sure I understand rule 7, but this is another thread (and not really my concern).

This is however all quite high level stuff and allows for lots of interpretation. I guess I was looking for some a bit more specific guidance on the temporary and permanent banning of members, but that might be too much asked for on a "free" forum.

[robbo24]

Cheers for reminding us. I guess most of these rules make a lot of sense - and the reminder is justifiable from the viewpoint of the operator (and given that they pay the bills, they may as well pick the tune). Not sure I understand rule 7, but this is another thread (and not really my concern).

This is however all quite high level stuff and allows for lots of interpretation. I guess I was looking for some a bit more specific guidance on the temporary and permanent banning of members, but that might be too much asked for on a "free" forum.

Rule 7 probably seeks to avoid the forum becoming a conduit for AFAs and other "paid professionals" and other "non-paid non-professionals" from trying to peddal their wares on the forum. Thereby reducing the likelihood that the forum itself is liable for foolhardy advice given by nicknames on the internet.

In my experience, long winded forum rules don't really amount to much except something for the moderator to point to when they ban you at their discretion on their terms.

Unfortunately you do not pay good consideration to Tarawera Publishing Ltd so there is not very much you can do by way of enforcement of the policy.

Forum moderators usually care very little hearing about member's interpretations of the forum rules once they've decided to ban them...

To conclude: be nice to STMOD because he's really cool and nobody is as cool or smart as STMOD