Question on enforcement of Universal Rule 7

[_Stormy Waters]

Do not reveal personal or "in real life" information about any poster on this site that he or she has not explicitly revealed here. This includes avoiding mention of his/her actual first or last name, even if he or she has made it available on some other website.*

The pentalities for violating universal rule #7 are made quite clear here.

The first time personal or behind-the-scenes information is posted without permission, the poster will be given a one-week suspension. This way, the thread can wind down on its own (because closing the thread would otherwise punish everyone, not just the miscreant). If the punishee fails to learn his/her lesson and targets the same individual again or otherwise demonstrates that he/she has not learned his/her lesson, then a longer ban. . . X months. . . will be implemented, as appropriate.

The violations to this rule seem to be increasingly frequent. in my opinion it's because there has been to my knowledge no real consequence for breaking it.

A number of days ago Pahoran used the first and last name of the person that he believed to be Dr. Scratch. I reported the usage, but to my knowledge, Pahoran did not receive a one week suspension.

Days later he again used in real life information against the poster Darth J. I believe mods also saw it because it was removed with red font.

To be clear I'm not playing partisan here. The moderators can verify that I have reported the usage of Pahoran's real name on a number of occasions. But by current rules shouldn't Pahoran have been suspended for a week if not more? (He also used the believed name of Dr. Scratch on multiple occasions) Shouldn't those who use Pahoran's real name repeatedly have been suspended?

Perhaps they were suspended quietly, but if that is the case I think it should be made public so that people know their are consequences for breaking the rules.

I value my anonymity. So I would appreciate the clarification on this rule and its enforcement if you have the time. If these rules are no longer being enforced as described that's fine. It's your board. You can do whatever you want. But I would take said change into consideration as may some others.

Edited to Add:
To be clear I don't want Pahoran to be suspended. I think he is an embarrassment to the church and I love that about him. If he is in violation, please make an exception to the rule and allow him to keep posting.

[_MsJack]

A number of days ago Pahoran used the first and last name of the person that he believed to be Dr. Scratch. I reported the usage, but to my knowledge, Pahoran did not receive a one week suspension. I believe that moderator who removed it was Liz who knew it was the believed identity of Dr. Scratch.

Actually, the first attempt at "outing" RL information in that thread came from Pahoran when he insinuated that Scratch was a "white Chinese guy." This happened pretty early on in the thread, on page 3. Scratch didn't mention Pahoran's divorce until page 8.

[_Yoda]

Stormy, I do not remember answering your report, or actioning it in any way. It is difficult to track, even in the Moderator logs, because we have been instructed by Shades to delete reports after they are actioned.

All of us action in real life information in the same way when we remove it. We remove it in brackets like this: [in real life deleted. We may also say simply...deleted.]

We are all supposed to be clones of Shades in our actions.

As far as doling out suspensions are concerned, when I was doling out suspensions for in real life information, I was raked over the coals. Therefore, I quit doing it, and simply followed Shades lead. He seemed to be more lax on this rule, and the only thing that was really being handled was in real life information removal.

When suspensions ARE doled out, they are done so quietly. Shades feels that is unfair to "kick a man when he is down".

Everything that you brought up are things that Shades will have to make future calls on.

I am no longer in a position to do so, and am frankly rather relieved about that.

[_Stormy Waters]

Thanks for the response Liz. I shouldn't have mentioned the part about you, as I was merely guessing that you handled it. I apologize. But for the record I made it clear when I reported the violation that is was the name Pahoran had previously used when referring to Scratch. So there was no doubt as far as the intent.

All of us action in real life information in the same way when we remove it. We remove it in brackets like this: [in real life deleted. We may also say simply...deleted.]

We are all supposed to be clones of Shades in our actions.

As far as doling out suspensions are concerned, when I was doling out suspensions for in real life information, I was raked over the coals. Therefore, I quit doing it, and simply followed Shades lead. He seemed to be more lax on this rule, and the only thing that was really being handled was in real life information removal.

When suspensions ARE doled out, they are done so quietly. Shades feels that is unfair to "kick a man when he is down".

Everything that you brought up are things that Shades will have to make future calls on.

I am no longer in a position to do so, and am frankly rather relieved about that.

I guess the purpose of this thread is to determine whether or not in real life violations result in suspensions as linked to in the official rules. You answer seems to indicate that in real life violations do not.

Thanks again for your service as a moderator to the board.

I guess I disagree with not making the suspensions public. I think of the suspensions as more as a deterrent. After all once someone's in real life identity has been posted, and if it persists for several hours the damage is irreversible.

[_MCB]

Suspensions further humble the person suspended because it is not mentioned, and the individual is generally not missed.

Damage associated with in real life information can be reduced by 24/7 moderator coverage. [Jersey Girl, anyone?]

[_Yoda]

Suspensions further humble the person suspended because it is not mentioned, and the individual is generally not missed.

Damage associated with in real life information can be reduced by 24/7 moderator coverage. [Jersey Girl, anyone?]

An expectation of 24/7 Moderator coverage on a board of Moderator volunteers is unrealistic, in my opinion. I also believe that it is unrealistic in Shades' opinion as well.

[_MCB]

It may be an unrealistic goal, but no harm in reaching for it.

[_harmony]

It may be an unrealistic goal, but no harm in reaching for it.

Unrealistic and unreachable, given a list of posters that includes, among the most brilliant, those who've never made it out of puberty.

[_Dr. Shades]

[B]y current rules shouldn't Pahoran have been suspended for a week if not more? (He also used the believed name of Dr. Scratch on multiple occasions) Shouldn't those who use Pahoran's real name repeatedly have been suspended?

Yes and yes.

Lately there have been so many such violations that merely keeping up with them all has depleted me of the energy and willpower to issue suspensions, especially since, of late, any given violate-ee has so often been a violator as well.

[_lulu]

[B]y current rules shouldn't Pahoran have been suspended for a week if not more? (He also used the believed name of Dr. Scratch on multiple occasions) Shouldn't those who use Pahoran's real name repeatedly have been suspended?

Yes and yes.

Lately there have been so many such violations that merely keeping up with them all has depleted me of the energy and willpower to issue suspensions, especially since, of late, any given violate-ee has so often been a violator as well.

Can you say anything about how such might be handled in the future so board members can evaluate how safe their in real life ID might be here?