True, but it is an expected outcome along the path towards someone invoking Godwin's law, upon which point everyone can go to bed and wake up fresh tomorrow to start a new thread to argue black is blue and similar. :)

That's not my point. The point is the effectiveness, and whether bans - or any other proposed measures - will 'clean up' the place. As I said, let's check back in 6 months. Saying it is one thing. Implementation is a whole other thing.

I think they will, as I belive it was the total lack of any moderation that made the forum so attractive to trolls and people looking for a soap box for particuarly hateful or crazy ramblings. But even if it does not work, at least it shows that GOG will no longer acquiesce to the trolls. As long as it's more than just a token effort, I will appreciate it and be gratefull for it regardless of whether the trolls leave, or try to circumvent the moderation. At least, like Vaina said, it will be clear that the trolls are not wanted here, and are not part of the community.

If the alternative is the anarchy we've seen over the past year or so, then I'm all for some measure of consequences for people who think they can do whatever the hell they want with no regard for anyone else.

Has anyone seen any of the "usual suspects" around today?

Maybe it's already working.

I guess I never got involved enough to get on people's shitlists, which is why forum moderation was never that big a deal for me personally.

I don't care about being on anyone's shitlist, I'm sure I'll be on plenty of people's even after the trolls are all banned. What I do care about is not seeing things like these anymore. And this is just a sample, I can't attach more to one post.

I could bolster that collection significantly. But it seems there is no need for that right now.

Fair enough. Hopefully it works out that way, without heavy-handed actions. I think we all appreciate a good lively discussion - without personal insults / attacks, of course - and with any luck that part of this place will be unscathed. That said, I don't want people to feel like they shouldn't say speak their mind for fear of getting the boot.

See even that doesn't bother me if it's a relevant thread. :P I guess I'm desensitized enough to not care, thanks to the Chans and the Reddits and whatnot. EDIT: Oh, and I enjoyed Idubbz's "niggerfaggot" bit. ;)

So this isn't my fight but I won't get in the way of changes, since this is just a fugging forum. ;)

Oh come on.

I almost kind of feel ripped off on this forum as I tried to help my friends, got my rep raped, etc, yet no mod etc, wants to make it right with me.

It IS a difficult situation to be in as a mod. They can only dump rep on people (and occasionally do. Got a surprise 50 point rep boost overnight once), and that's favoritism in a nutshell. But I guess the message has finally arrived and reputation will eventually be removed altogether.

And the dude can finally abide again.

The bad thing is I don't deserve the number I have.