While I mean these to be general comments, obviously my views have implications on this thread: With all due respect to Randy, crime and punishments; sanctions and rehabilitation should not be super secret. If the goal is to impact on community members’ posting behavior, then what caused a ban, and the length of that ban, should be made public.

Do the crime, do the time. Then, once rehabilitated (and hopefully apologetic) be welcomed back. If an affront was severe enough to warrant a ban, then a public apology to the community should be required to re-post.

I am more comfortable with knowing how a person violated FT rules by doing what specific listed acts and then being told the proscribed length of the time-out, rather than him/her just disappearing and reappearing. Without knowing specifics, how can a rational person adjust their behavior accordingly and be deterred from committing similar violations? Also, this will avoid the ubiquitous, “where is so and so” threads.

Also, once back from posting exile, are members returned on “probation status” whereby recidivism is cause for further or lifetime bans?