Barabbas Custom for this Site

[jgh7]

In Matthew 27 we read of the Pilate's custom to release a prisoner that the crowd would choose during the yearly festival (Barabbas was the prisoner chosen over Jesus).

I bring up the idea of doing something similar on this site. Once a year a vote can be cast to unban someone (with the option also of unbanning no one).

My thought is that people deserve another chance. Granted they've been given tons of chances before they're banned (or their violations were so egregious that they were banned rather quickly, and perhaps those people can't be put up for vote). But in the spirit of forgiveness I like the idea of once a year possibly unbanning someone. Some of the banned people really enjoyed this site and a part of me wants to hold out the opportunity for them to return.

So in the spirit of this very topic, I hold a poll!

[Aetixintro]

[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

I'd rather have the Unbanning Custom as Barabbas means something like (utter) Criminal which isn't what we should encourage, I think.

However, I think not all banned people should be eligible. I think they need to suffer 12 months or 24 months of banning before being pardoned.

So: I'm open to this.

[benchwarmer]

[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

To follow the story, I think the mod team would need to put someone forward to be unbanned (our Jesus stand in) and we (the mob) would chant "No, crucify him, we want <insert someone who really should stay banned> instead!"

So, I don't see how it would work well if we follow the Bible story. It would only result in the mob (us) bringing someone back that doesn't deserve it.

Now, if you want to institute a system were everyone (mods and all) vote on someone to be asked to return if they like, that might have some merit. To be honest though, most who are banned are not missed. There are a few I can think of who might be ok to bring back, but they basically committed Seppuku in a fit of rage and stormed off as they seemed to have had enough of this site.

[jgh7]

[Replying to post 3 by benchwarmer]

Heh, yeah I don't mean to be a literal following as in the story, but more of the system you described. And the Barabbas Custom is a rather poor name for it, I initially just thought it sounded catchy, but it's extremely mean to relate people banned here to Barabbas. That was not my intention at all in giving it that name.

I agree that most people banned are not missed and did indeed get banned through committing rage-induced seppuku. But I can think of one person whose arguments I did like reading and thought it unfortunate they went the route of suppuku so to speak.

If this system is only done once a year and with the option to unban no one included in it, then I think it would function well.

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

To be honest I would support a banning system that simply doubles the length of punishment. One year banned then two years then 4 then 8.

Is anyone banned that has been asking to come back?

[Neatras]

So does that mean people who try to make a new account to circumvent the ban was resurrected?

If someone's banned, they're banned. If I get banned, I may not like the outcome, but at least I'm being held to the same level of scrutiny as others. Turning the yearly "festival" into a popularity contest would only further divide the community, I feel, as theists would inevitably find someone they'd think a martyr, and atheists would... Well, they'd probably just oppose most of it.

[Tcg]

[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

From what I have seen in my short time here, those who get banned have received plenty of warnings and continue to break the rules in order to expedite their banning.

I've also seen posters who end up in warning status (can't remember the right term) turn themselves around, clear their status after 30 days, and then proceed to post in a manner that is in the guidelines of the rules.

Those who got banned had plenty of chances to not get banned. If they came back, I suspect they'd ignore the rules as they did the first time and end up banned again.