Banned from Kotaku

[MasterDex]

Peteer01 found my old banned account from a few years ago and it brought back some memories so I decided to go seek out the comments that I believe got me banned. After I found them, I didn't want to derail the Fucking Kotaku thread so here's a thread where we can all share our stories on how we were banned or lost stars on Kotaku if we ever have.

 

I won't waste time telling my tale so instead, take a look at the comments. Just click All to see the whole conversation. I'll leave it to all of you to decide whether it was justified or not.

 

So, anyone else a story to share?

[TheForgetfulBrain]

Hmm, I was too lazy to read the whole thread and kind of confused by how the comments strung together, but I'm gonna go with unjustified.

 

What was the jist for the jerkwads like me that are like: "tl;dr - btw, what was that about?"

 

Before I became The Forgetful Brain as everyone knows me now, I was a lowly unstarred commenter, slowly swimming through Kotaku's midst, some three, four years ago. Back then I was called 'Sir Carrot,' my old go-to pseudonym.

 

Anyhoo, there was an article by Bashcraft on doki doki majo shinpan, and I decided to use some of the brand new interweb language I had recently picked up, and in poorly attempted satiric jest, said.

 

"TITS OR GTFO."

 

I believe it was meant to be a subtle, yet witty commentary on the fact that games like that exist without going the full mile, but it got me a good, firm ban. I don't remember if it was Fahey, McWhertor or Bashcraft that did it, but I recall feeling quite ashamed and disheartened and staying off of Kotaku for a number of months.

 

After that, I was very careful about what I posted, and if anything was in jest, I was sure to explain why and that it was in fact in jest.

[MasterDex]

Hmm, I was too lazy to read the whole thread and kind of confused by how the comments strung together, but I'm gonna go with unjustified.

 

What was the jist for the jerkwads like me that are like: "tl;dr - btw, what was that about?"

 

Before I became The Forgetful Brain as everyone knows me now, I was a lowly unstarred commenter, slowly swimming through Kotaku's midst, some three, four years ago. Back then I was called 'Sir Carrot,' my old go-to pseudonym.

 

Anyhoo, there was an article by Bashcraft on doki doki majo shinpan, and I decided to use some of the brand new interweb language I had recently picked up, and in poorly attempted satiric jest, said.

 

"TITS OR GTFO."

 

I believe it was meant to be a subtle, yet witty commentary on the fact that games like that exist without going the full mile, but it got me a good, firm ban. I don't remember if it was Fahey, McWhertor or Bashcraft that did it, but I recall feeling quite ashamed and disheartened and staying off of Kotaku for a number of months.

 

After that, I was very careful about what I posted, and if anything was in jest, I was sure to explain why and that it was in fact in jest.

 

TL;DR comment?! BAN!!

 

I kid! Yeah, the old comments don't string together at all really. The jist of it is that excel_excel made an off-handed comment saying he could imagine how a military-friendly city could be disturbing, the keyword being imagine. Then some guy decided to rip him a new one and went off on some tirade about how the Military are full of stand-up guys and gals only in it for their country, etc, etc, and how he was an asshole or some shit for imagining a disturbing scenario. Then I came in and foolishly tried to get the guy to see where excel_excel was coming from but he was having none of it. Unfortunately, he was the friend of the hammer wielder and I think that's how I got my ban. It's the only comments I could find that seemed liek they could be taking as ban-worthy anyway.

 

tl;dr-tl;dr: Off-handed comment prompted ragepost which prompted my defense post which promtped another ragepost which I assume promted a ragetelltale.

Edited February 24, 2011 by MasterDex

[Pirandello]

Thanks for summarizing it, I didn't want to click the link to go to the dreaded site again.

[TheForgetfulBrain]

Hmm, I was too lazy to read the whole thread and kind of confused by how the comments strung together, but I'm gonna go with unjustified.

 

What was the jist for the jerkwads like me that are like: "tl;dr - btw, what was that about?"

 

Before I became The Forgetful Brain as everyone knows me now, I was a lowly unstarred commenter, slowly swimming through Kotaku's midst, some three, four years ago. Back then I was called 'Sir Carrot,' my old go-to pseudonym.

 

Anyhoo, there was an article by Bashcraft on doki doki majo shinpan, and I decided to use some of the brand new interweb language I had recently picked up, and in poorly attempted satiric jest, said.

 

"TITS OR GTFO."

 

I believe it was meant to be a subtle, yet witty commentary on the fact that games like that exist without going the full mile, but it got me a good, firm ban. I don't remember if it was Fahey, McWhertor or Bashcraft that did it, but I recall feeling quite ashamed and disheartened and staying off of Kotaku for a number of months.

 

After that, I was very careful about what I posted, and if anything was in jest, I was sure to explain why and that it was in fact in jest.

 

TL;DR comment?! BAN!!

 

I kid! Yeah, the old comments don't string together at all really. The jist of it is that excel_excel made an off-handed comment saying he could imagine how a military-friendly city could be disturbing, the keyword being imagine. Then some guy decided to rip him a new one and went off on some tirade about how the Military are full of stand-up guys and gals only in it for their country, etc, etc, and how he was an asshole or some shit for imagining a disturbing scenario. Then I came in and foolishly tried to get the guy to see where excel_excel was coming from but he was having none of it. Unfortunately, he was the friend of the hammer wielder and I think that's how I got my ban. It's the only comments I could find that seemed liek they could be taking as ban-worthy anyway.

 

tl;dr-tl;dr: Off-handed comment prompted ragepost which prompted my defense post which promtped another ragepost which I assume promted a ragetelltale.

 

Unjustified! Unjustified, I say!

 

Ah well.

 

Can't keep us down!

[excel_excel]

My comment was based on the city being advertised as the 'most military friendly city in america'

 

bah, it was fucking ages ago 3 years. I felt really bad dex got banned.

Edited February 24, 2011 by excel_excel

[excaliburps]

They seem to be banning people much less these days. I've only gotten 2-3 people banned my whole time in Kotaku. Mostly those annoying gits who troll around and attack other people for no reason other than to get attention.

 

I did have one kid who constantly followed me around and insulted me. His name had something to do with Zelda, Link. Funny stuff! He even quoted me in a past post about how I referred to my then-GF as my wife, etc. Basically, it was a bit creepy.

 

I think tl;dr's, is this news, etc. Should be given a warning first. If they continue, ban 'em.

 

Attacking other commenters? Insta-ban especially if they're hurling insults, slurs at 'em. People seem to forget that you can disagree on things without pissing the other people off.

 

Oh, and the usual "MEH" post? God I hate those. If you don't like a game, don't post! Unless you hate something and you have something substantial to say.

 

Seems kinda pointless the bannings now. I mean commenters are getting fewer and fewer. Of course the eds don't want to further lose the remaining readers. And the fact that everyone gets stars now even for bloody photo contests makes the "approving commneters" accounts a bit moot.

[peteer01]

Seems kinda pointless the bannings now. I mean commenters are getting fewer and fewer. Of course the eds don't want to further lose the remaining readers. And the fact that everyone gets stars now even for bloody photo contests makes the "approving commneters" accounts a bit moot.

Gah.

 

I went digging through the old TAY and the old Kotaku massacre posts trying to find the "After Today, Stars Have No Meaning" image...or something along those lines. Thought it would be appropriate.

 

Was a bit sad to see the "This Is Kotaku" article talking about how important commenters are were.

Edited February 24, 2011 by peteer01

[Mal]

My MaliciousH account got banned from me saying how a few weeks late Bashcraft was for some sort of news. I forget what kind... I think it was a video... Pretty much a usual ban, I suppose. Fine by me... HOWEVER, apparently Bashcraft didn't like that so he edited my comment to some sort of gibberish. That is not fine by me. It wasn't even in l33t (Been a while...) or anything that I knew but it did say something after a few reads. Though I just went "Huh..." and moved on then made my Azndude account. Ban invasion? Yes sir. inb4 ban from Kotaku... again.

[excaliburps]

Seems kinda pointless the bannings now. I mean commenters are getting fewer and fewer. Of course the eds don't want to further lose the remaining readers. And the fact that everyone gets stars now even for bloody photo contests makes the "approving commneters" accounts a bit moot.

Gah.

 

I went digging through the old TAY and the old Kotaku massacre posts trying to find the "After Today, Stars Have No Meaning" image...or something along those lines. Thought it would be appropriate.

 

Was a bit sad to see the "This Is Kotaku" article talking about how important commenters are were.

 

 

Lol! Stars are losing their meaning. It used to mean that the person with the star meant that he/she is NOT a troll, knows how to handle criticism and has the grammatical capabilities of at least a HS student.

 

Now? Just do a good photo job and promote, let everyone in!

[Gigawings]

Seems kinda pointless the bannings now. I mean commenters are getting fewer and fewer. Of course the eds don't want to further lose the remaining readers. And the fact that everyone gets stars now even for bloody photo contests makes the "approving commneters" accounts a bit moot.

Gah.

 

I went digging through the old TAY and the old Kotaku massacre posts trying to find the "After Today, Stars Have No Meaning" image...or something along those lines. Thought it would be appropriate.

 

Was a bit sad to see the "This Is Kotaku" article talking about how important commenters are were.

 

 

Lol! Stars are losing their meaning. It used to mean that the person with the star meant that he/she is NOT a troll, knows how to handle criticism and has the grammatical capabilities of at least a HS student.

 

Now? Just do a good photo job and promote, let everyone in!

 

I think you don't need photoshop skill to get a star, I once saw a guy correcting a fact for Owen sport article (about football) and get starred.

 

Maybe we should throw a giant Kotaku party so we can all get starred.

 

Oh btw, hi Excaliburps.

[excaliburps]

Seems kinda pointless the bannings now. I mean commenters are getting fewer and fewer. Of course the eds don't want to further lose the remaining readers. And the fact that everyone gets stars now even for bloody photo contests makes the "approving commneters" accounts a bit moot.

Gah.

 

I went digging through the old TAY and the old Kotaku massacre posts trying to find the "After Today, Stars Have No Meaning" image...or something along those lines. Thought it would be appropriate.

 

Was a bit sad to see the "This Is Kotaku" article talking about how important commenters are were.

 

 

Lol! Stars are losing their meaning. It used to mean that the person with the star meant that he/she is NOT a troll, knows how to handle criticism and has the grammatical capabilities of at least a HS student.

 

Now? Just do a good photo job and promote, let everyone in!

 

I think you don't need photoshop skill to get a star, I once saw a guy correcting a fact for Owen sport article (about football) and get starred.

 

Maybe we should throw a giant Kotaku party so we can all get starred.

 

Oh btw, hi Excaliburps.

 

What?? Damn...Was it a big correction? A spelling mistake? There was a time when stars were given out because the comments were insightful, funny, had depth, etc. I had no idea why I have one though. Haha! I kid!

 

In all seriousness, it should be given to people who deserve it. In the context of commenting. At least that's what I think.

[Hot Heart]

I lost one star because I don't remember how I got it and it was during that whole shake-up a while back where stars were going missing or being given randomly and whatever so I wasn't sure if I should even have one. Whoops.

 

Then I lost another one for making a joke on one of Owen's articles, except he took it as some sort of personal attack (even though the joke was written as if from his perspective). I guess the joke was a bit too 'strongly-worded' but I'll admit it wasn't great and there was room for confusion.

 

Got it back for making a joke on one of Ashcraft's articles though. Something to do with rabbids being used to advertise Coca-Cola and saying 'that's not the sort of coke I usually associate with those guys'.

[excaliburps]

I lost one star because I don't remember how I got it and it was during that whole shake-up a while back where stars were going missing or being given randomly and whatever so I wasn't sure if I should even have one. Whoops.

 

Then I lost another one for making a joke on one of Owen's articles, except he took it as some sort of personal attack (even though the joke was written as if from his perspective). I guess the joke was a bit too 'strongly-worded' but I'll admit it wasn't great and there was room for confusion.

 

Got it back for making a joke on one of Ashcraft's articles though. Something to do with rabbids being used to advertise Coca-Cola and saying 'that's not the sort of coke I usually associate with those guys'.

 

Yeah. It's kinda hit or miss from time to time. I honestly have no idea why I have a star. I don't comment on controversial topics much. Don't think I've ever commented about the meaning of life or something as deep. I mostly make jokes, be crude and whatnot. And I tend to curse...A LOT! Up to now I don't hold my tongue and they seem ok with it. I don't attack anyone directly of course.

 

Makes me think it's more of a "if I like you you get a star" thing. Which is alright. But some of the photo winners are dicks. And not in a good way.

[deanb]

Yeah I think stars for photo winners is iffy. I think they just got bored with handing them out in any particular fashion. And since a decent chunk of active star base kinda gave em the V's last summer they wanted a quick n easy way to fill it out.

Also folks with stars I'd imagine tend to stick around.

I dunno.

Star system in theory = good idea

Star system in practice = terrible.

[Strangelove]

Stars are like grammys.

[excaliburps]

Yeah I think stars for photo winners is iffy. I think they just got bored with handing them out in any particular fashion. And since a decent chunk of active star base kinda gave em the V's last summer they wanted a quick n easy way to fill it out.

Also folks with stars I'd imagine tend to stick around.

I dunno.

Star system in theory = good idea

Star system in practice = terrible.

 

 

Yeah. I mean comments of the week were replaced with Photoshop contests? WTF? How is that better?

 

Star system was fantastic at first. Now? Everyone has one and they don't care if they have one.

[Pirandello]

Star system was fantastic at first. Now? Everyone has one and they don't care if they have one.

And because of that, the scumbaggery thrives. No thanks to the current downgrade the site went through.

[Gigawings]

Yeah I think stars for photo winners is iffy. I think they just got bored with handing them out in any particular fashion. And since a decent chunk of active star base kinda gave em the V's last summer they wanted a quick n easy way to fill it out.

Also folks with stars I'd imagine tend to stick around.

I dunno.

Star system in theory = good idea

Star system in practice = terrible.

 

 

Yeah. I mean comments of the week were replaced with Photoshop contests? WTF? How is that better?

 

Star system was fantastic at first. Now? Everyone has one and they don't care if they have one.

 

Well, CotW process is quite complicated, first, People need to send their favourite comment(s) by e-mail, there's at least 50 articles in workdays and less than 20 articles in weekends, comments range between 10-1000 per article, let say there's 5 percents of that comments were sent to them, the time to sort it out, the time to read them one by one and then decide the top 4 or 5 take too long, so I think that's why they dropped it.

 

Now with PS contest, there are 300-800 submitters each week, but the choice option is easier.

 

Star, once used as a meter to show a quality commenter, now it's only for them who were noticed when they make a good comments OR people who can shoop da whoop.

 

About the star Owen give to the one who correct him, it was about a football event correction, I rarely open Owen's football article, so when I open one, I stumble with this:

 

http://ca.kotaku.com/5752823/

 

A guy called Extric correct him about... well... oh heck here the copy paste:

 

"Brees is the only Super Bowl winner among that bunch."

 

Uhh... Polamalu and the Steelers won the Super Bowl that year

 

I don't know if this star is justified or not, I just hoping that they still giving star due to quality of the commenter.

[deanb]

I think your 5% is a huge overestimate. I'd whack as many decimal points on that too. I think part of the reason it stopped was because:

1. Much less folks forwarded stuff (partly contributed with banning a decent chunk of the folks who used to regularly post)

2. Folks started to forward them things with a anti-kotaku slant on it.

3. He doesn't give a shit on it anymore.

4. a mix of all of the above.

[excaliburps]

@Giga:

 

"I don't know if this star is justified or not, I just hoping that they still giving star due to quality of the commenter."

 

Exactly! That should be the main reason of the star. It could be because you're a funny sod, or you always know the correct alignment of Jupiter in relation to gaming or whatnot.

 

Now? I see people with stars who are either rude, or just plain dicks. Say what you will about stars being pointless, etc. But I chose whom to reply to as to not promote a comment that's just obviously looking for attention. That, and trying to help some people out.

[madbassman39]

I got banned once, about maybe two years ago? I don't remember. It was something about voting and the end of the article said "Non voting replies will be banned" and so I said "That cat is awesome! He's got my vote" to which I was banned. I thought that was a voting comment.

 

This all happened right before you had to be promoted to get a commenting account, before the "expand to see replies" update (the best update to date. Sadly the new one ruined it). I got my account back like 2 months later and all was well.

[madbassman39]

@excaliburps

 

"Exactly! That should be the main reason of the star. It could be because you're a funny sod, or you always know the correct alignment of Jupiter in relation to gaming or whatnot.

 

Now? I see people with stars who are either rude, or just plain dicks. Say what you will about stars being pointless, etc. But I chose whom to reply to as to not promote a comment that's just obviously looking for attention. That, and trying to help some people out."

 

This always pissed me off. I have been a level headed commenter, leaving good comments, sometimes fighting the good fight, and I don't get a star. Meanwhile, I make an opinion comment on something and the people who come in to burst my bubble? Idiot star commenters.

[excaliburps]

@excaliburps

 

"Exactly! That should be the main reason of the star. It could be because you're a funny sod, or you always know the correct alignment of Jupiter in relation to gaming or whatnot.

 

Now? I see people with stars who are either rude, or just plain dicks. Say what you will about stars being pointless, etc. But I chose whom to reply to as to not promote a comment that's just obviously looking for attention. That, and trying to help some people out."

 

This always pissed me off. I have been a level headed commenter, leaving good comments, sometimes fighting the good fight, and I don't get a star. Meanwhile, I make an opinion comment on something and the people who come in to burst my bubble? Idiot star commenters.

 

 

That's what happens with these 'shop contests. And the fact that the site is now starving for hits of any kind makes me think they're not going to be as strict with banning.

 

Seriously, the only stories that get more than a 100 comments are either about CoD, BF, any super high-profile game, or a TAY thread or similar to it.

 

The fact that they're now posting TAY themed threads twice a day is no coincidence.

 

Which is kinda pointless as the commenters posting in it are not the usual people who made it what it was. I'm ok with new people. But new people who are JERKS? Nope.

[Gigawings]

Just get back from SpeakUp area, find out that LoneWanderer, the guy who always promote Tay Gappoi is banned now, it seems like he finally get on editor's nerve now.

 

To Excaliburps: Be careful man, I think they start noticing any links people put out in Kotaku TAYs and speakup, hope you won't get banned from posting BF3News link. (even though I saw many people still posting their blog links, so it just a caution)