Tachy Goes to Coventry

[KingJobs]

Is there any chance SMF will have a feature like vBulletin's Tachy Goes to Coventry?  It is basically the opposite of an ignore feature where the Administrator can make all of a users posts disappear so they are talking to dead air.  It's a cruel and cool way to ban somebody from posting.

[Oldiesmann]

And what happens when this user wonders where all of their posts went?

[Ben_S]

And what happens when this user wonders where all of their posts went?

They have no idea they don't exist as they see them. They happily post away and see their posts, but noone does.

[Oldiesmann]

Ok. Interesting idea, but I have no idea how it would work as so much would have to be done in SMF to make it work properly...

[Grudge]

It's kind of the opposite of post moderation. As we haven't managed to get round to writing that one yet I don't see this becoming a feature anytime in the distant future

[destalk]

This is a really powerful feature for dealing with repetitive trolls. Banning them only makes them feel important and they relish the challenge of finding a way back in. Very tiresome.

[JayBachatero]

i like this idea.  sounds good lets hope it makes it to SMF someday

[destalk]

bounce

Just to get interest flowing again.

[bloc]

One thing that will give it away is that once they log out - if the forum isn't closed for guests - they see the posts are missing.

[destalk]

Oh sure. It isn't foolproof. Unless, when they click on the logout button, they are not really logged out. Just given the appearance of being logged out, perhaps using IP/cookie identification?

In fact, it would be interesting if this could be added as an option to the banning triggers perhaps.

But of course, if they clear their cookies, or view the site on a different internet connection or computer, then they will see their posts hidden.

It probably needs to be used sparingly with only a certain type of troll. Similarly there is anther vBulletin mod that simulates a really bad internet connection for a troll.  It simulates 404 errors and loads the pages really slowly, as if the site or server is not working properly. The idea being to encourage the troll to move on somewhere else.

I think I saw some code from someone on these forums where a banned used was redirected to another web site/page. This could be another way to approach the issue. Perhaps divert the banned user to a 'duplicate' forum install... probably overkill though.

[Peter Duggan]

Oh sure. It isn't foolproof. Unless, when they click on the logout button, they are not really logged out. Just given the appearance of being logged out, perhaps using IP/cookie identification?

And supposing they're working from a shared/public computer rather than a private single-user one?

[destalk]

As I said, it isn't foolproof.

[c2h5oh]

Well.. this seems to be a very nice detroller and sure as hell I could use one.

[bloc]

If a clause saying it only works on a non-guests forum, then the holes are fewer lol. Then only the login name will be enough, once they logout its closed forum anyway. Codewise it should be quite simple to add in excluded messages - it would seem non-existant for others, except when a moderator remove the quarantine. Also, if the quarantine is based on member rather than specific post, it makes it easier to have everything run as normal once/if they are allowed again.

Quite a interesting mod actually.Tempted to have a stab at it.

[CP]

We used it on vB forums and it worked nicely in those rare occasions when needed. Hopefully this will be considered.