Strikes and Strikeouts

Strikes are stern warnings from the forums moderators about a member’s forums behavior.

Individually, strikes are warnings, not punishments. But when a member receives 3 strikes in a 90 day grace window, they “strike out” and can no longer post in the forums for a penalty time of 3 weeks.

After a member strikes out once, the grace window no longer applies to them, and each subsequent strike that member receives is an immediate strikeout. After a member’s first strikeout, the penalty period for subsequent strikeouts is 2 weeks plus 1 week per total all-time strikeouts.

The 90 day grace window is an important path to forgiveness. If a member has received one or more strikes without striking out, and the 90 day grace window passes without that member incurring further strikes, then previous strikes effectively start dropping off their records. This means that if a member follows the rules, strikes are not permanent. But if a member continuously ignores the rules, strikes become increasingly punishing.

Examples

• A member receives one strike. 90 days after the strike, it is forgiven; they now have 0 strikes. 122 days after the first strike, they receive another strike. Because their first strike was forgiven after the 90 day window, they now currently have a total of 1 strike.

• A member receives a strike, then a second strike 30 days after the first, then no more strikes. 90 days after the first strike, it is forgiven; they now have 1 strike. 90 days after the second strike, it too is forgiven and they now have 0 strikes.

• A member receives a strike, then a second strike 30 days after the first, then a third strike 7 days after the second. The member has now “struck out” and cannot post to the forums for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, they may post again; but any more strikes are an immediate strikeout for a longer period of time. The 90 day grace window no longer applies to this member, because they have already “struck out” once.

• A member has “struck out” 3 times already, and receives a strike 120 days after their last strikeout. The member has now “struck out” a fourth time, and cannot post to the forums for 6 weeks. That’s 2 weeks plus 1 week for each of the member’s 4 strikeouts.