Do you delete members after a permanent ban?

[Marie 1988 Forum]

After permanently banning a member, do you remove them entirely or just deactivate their account? When I was new to forum owning, I used to think that if you deleted and account after banning someone they would realize they were no longer welcome to the forum. My sites post count kept screwing up every time I permanent banned someone and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why my stats were so messed up and naturally my members were also. This was a turning point for me. I then took on a tech admin who was kind enough to explain to me that the reason for my status being so messed up was that I kept removing members after banning them he showed me how to do it the right way, by simply deactivating the account rather than delete it.

 

[Myers]

Yeah, deactivating is better than deleting. I have never deleted not deactivated I have just added a tool to move all their posts to the recycle bin area and ban them.

 

[David S]

I don't delete the user because it looks unprofessional and what happens if you have a ban appeal system? The user might want to appeal the ban in a few years and if they have changed they can come back. I usually send their post to the trash bin though. Deactivating is a lot better than deleting.

 

[Page]

I just banned them from there IP address and email, I do not delete there account since they can use there email again.

 

[Na11]

I hate that! Think of all the content they put on your forum (even just a sentence), and now you are removing them! Deactivation is much wiser!

 

[Page]

Deactivation is much wiser!

It's always an good option then deleting

 

[Deleted member 29704]

I don't delete users at-all, I ban users "by request" because too many times people have had their accounts deleted and then wanted to come back. I also don't deactivate accounts, when people get issued a ban their IP and Email gets banned for the same length.

 

[Cierra]

I don't delete members for any reason unless they are spam bots nor do I deactivate accounts by request (if someone no longer wants to be part of the forum they do not have to log in anymore or I can change their password). If I am banning someone I email, user, and IP ban. As stated by others above it messes with the flow of interactions on the forum and thread/post counts.

 

[Page]

If I am banning someone I email, user, and IP ban. As stated by others above it messes with the flow of interactions on the forum and thread/post counts.

If you delete the bad spamming members they will join again, By banned them and not delete them there details like email and there IPs will be logged and they not able to join unless they use another email and IP

 

[cyimking]

Just ban and deactivate. They can just create the account again. TBH, if someone wants to join your board and spam up the place.. that person will find a way. You could block the IP address but then that person will use a VPN to sign up. You could disable registrations from VPNs but then some of your real users won't be able to sign up.

 

[Page]

Just ban and deactivate

I agree with that

 

[David S]

I delete members if they are spam bots

 

[cyimking]

Just ban and deactivate

I disagree with that

So you just delete the member or ... ?

 

[Page]

So you just delete the member or ... ?

Sorry I agree..

 

[Marie 1988 Forum]

If I am banning someone I email, user, and IP ban. As stated by others above it messes with the flow of interactions on the forum and thread/post counts.

If you delete the bad spamming members they will join again, By banned them and not delete them there details like email and there IPs will be logged and they not able to join unless they use another email and IP

My tech administration always tells me to deactivate accounts after a ban...NEVER delete them as it always gives them reason to try signing up again. Deactivation discourages them more effectively than deletion

 

[lunorian]

I used to delete spambots but I found they would reregister under the same username. By just perma-banning the account it requires them to think of a new username slowing them done. Also IP Bans + StopForumSpam Submissions help slow stuff down.

 

[Golddisk]

I don't delete accounts, only ban them. There isn't a need to really do anything more then that since it prevents them from using the account anyways.

For the most part, IP bans aren't very effective anymore as most people have dynamic IPs and/or using VPNs or proxies.

 

[Lord Saru]

I just ban them. I dont deactivate or delete their accounts. 4 years I ran my forum, I have never had any big spam issue.

 

[Page]

does anyone let them come back after a year or more?

 

[David S]

does anyone let them come back after a year or more?

Well it depends on what they have done. I always let them appeal though. If they can shown to be trusted, let them back if they can't just don't allow them on the forum altogether!