Free Dating Site    

Q) Why was I banned when I'm one of the "nice" ones and never flame anyone?

A) While "nice" posts are certainly encouraged, "nice" does not always insure that you are in adherence to the forum rules. A user can be rude and abrasive and still be within the forum rules while someone who is being perfectly polite may be breaking forum rules.
The best way to make sure that you are correctly following the rules is to read and understand them. If you have any questions, please ask a moderator. It's what we're here for, and we much prefer educating a user to banning one.
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Q) Why am I being banned when there are so many posts out there worse than mine?

A) There are less than a dozen moderators who log in on a daily basis, and there is an average of 6,000 new posts per day. There is no way that each and every post/thread that violates the rules can be eliminated immediately. This is why we appreciate the users who report violations and help us better utilize moderator hours.

Much like traffic cops; we can only penalize those violations that we observe. It is our hope that the possibility of a ban works as a deterrent to keep users posting within the forum rules and guidelines.

Also, keep in mind that "he/she is doing it, too" was not a valid excuse in kindergarten. It will not work here, either.

Each and every user will be held directly accountable for his posts.
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Q) Moderators are picking on me, Why have I been singled out?

There are thousands upon thousands of forum users, while we do get to know a handful of the most regular users, by and large, moderators don't know who you are, and do not have the time to follow you around checking your every word, even if we did.

If you are continually being banned or having your posts/threads removed, consider the fact that you ARE breaking the rules, and need to take responsibility for your OWN behavior and modify it accordingly.

Moderators do not delete posts/threads arbitrarily. If it seems this way to you, that is probably because you have NOT fully read/understood the forum rules and posting guidelines. If you need more information about what is allowable to post, simply ask on of the moderators in email.
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Q) Why was I banned for defending myself? Don't I have that right?

If someone insults you, comments upon you personally in violation of the "on topic" regulations, etc. you may certainly report them to a moderator (either via email or by posting anonymously on the help/suggestions forum) and have the situation dealt with. If you reply to an individual in kind, or engage in off-topic exchange with that person you will be penalized to the same extent that they are, as you will have become a rule-breaker yourself in having done so. Retaliation is NOT a valid excuse for having broken forum rules.

You will be held accountable for your posts regardless of any provocation (real OR perceived).
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Q) Why are you banning me, aren't I entitled to a warning first?

A)While moderators do give warnings when they feel they are the most productive course of action,(we prefer to educate rather than penalize) some violations (whether through severity or frequency of occurrence) warrant bans. This is left to the discretion of the individual moderator.
No one is "entitled" to a warning. Any and all violations are subject to forum bans at the discretion of administration/moderation.
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Q)Why was my protest thread removed? Don't I have the right to free speech?

A)Plentyoffish is a privately owned entity, just like a hotel or a restaurant.
This means that while we encourage and appreciate rule-abiding guests, those who disturb the experience of other users with dissentious posts and belligerent attitudes may have their posting privileges removed.

The ownership of this site provides its services free of charge. Suggestions for improvement and constructive feedback are always welcomed and considered as long as they are non-disruptive.

We understand that there may be the odd user who does not care for this service, but we do provide an easy way for those users to delete their profiles... and we always offer a cheerful refund of the membership fee for those who aren't happy here ;)

Posts/threads slamming the service, or any part of it, and/or encouraging group dissent/protest will be eliminated and the author banned from the service with due haste.

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Q)I've been banned for three years and wasn't notified, isn't that pretty harsh for my violation?

A)Moderators do not permanently ban users arbitrarily, such a ban is always contemplated very seriously.

If you have been banned for this amount of time, you may been recognized as a troll and/or troublemaker , or you may have been given adequate education/warning and still continue with the same forum violations repeatedly. Even relatively minor offenses can lead to permanent bans if they are flagrant ones.

We do not want to lose potentially contributive forum users, but neither will we tolerate continual and deliberate violations. Permanent banning is a last recourse when all other avenues have been exhausted.

When a forum user demonstrates to moderation that he/she either cannot grasp the concept of following the rules or refuses to, that user (in the best interests of the site experience of everyone else) will be permanently banned from the site.

It is not our policy to notify these individuals of the "whys" of our reasoning, as those users who require permanent banning have already demonstrated that they are incapable of comprehension.

Debating the validity of this course of action is counter productive and a waste of moderator hours in such a situation.

Q)What's up with the 2 in 10 posting rule, this is stupid, why has admin implemented this kind of rule?

A)The rule excludes lengthier (and therefore hopefully more thoughtful) posts.... so if you are being seriously contributive to a post (rather than just flirting/chatting/adding an "I agree") you should never even notice that is IS in place.
The filter has been quite affective in evening out user participation. Rather than having one or two people who monopolize one forum, more users are jumping in and adding their opinions.

Q)Why are you making me take down my cartoon/web pic when I see them all OVER the place?

There are millions on profiles on POF and around 4 moderators online in a given day. It's going to take time to notify everyone. If you see violations you can report them via the "report user" button on the bottom of their profile.
you'll find more information about this site guideline here:
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts3686293.aspx