Annorax has stepped down from his post of Administrator. On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to thank Annorax for his contributions to these forums and for all the long hour and hard work he has given over the years.
There is no planned replacement for Annorax at this time.
We are pleased to announce one of the most substantial changes to MtG Salvation policy in the site's history; the change to the banned member policy.
Until today, it used to be that if you get banned, you get banned permanently, with no possibility of a return. Not too long ago, we didn't even have an appeal process for banned or suspended members, and members who got banned, deservedly so or not, had two choices: either stay away from MtG Salvation forever, or make gimmick accounts to evade their bans.
However, this site is now quite old, and members who were banned as irresponsible teenagers might now be adults. People mature, people change. In quite a few cases, keeping these members away from the site is doing a disservice to the site and the community. This is something the MtG Salvation staff recognizes, and as such, we are changing our policy regarding banned members. The new policy is as follows:
If a member is banned, that member may appeal his or her ban in the Ban/Suspension Appeal Forum.
If the appeal is denied, it's a default one year off, with circumstances considered.
After that period, another appeal can be lodged. If this appeal is denied, another year must pass before another appeal is reviewed, ad nauseam.
At the point that a user can be determined to show an understanding of their reason for being banned & displays a genuine interest in reforming their character, they will be unbanned under a condition of a 1-year probation.
During this 1-year period, infractions are lengthened to approximately the remaining term of the probation (with the 40-day norm still a minimum; infractions will be set to a length equal to the number of weeks remaining to the probation, rounded up). Any suspension resulting in this time period will result in a return to banned member status.
Gimmick evasion of these conditions at any time means that the time until another appeal is reconsidered increases by one year.
Members who have been guilty of ripping, posting malicious links or other very severe offenses, will under no circumstance be allowed back on MtG Salvation.
New Banned Member Policy FAQ:
Q: How does this policy affect previously banned members?
A: The new policy applies to previously banned members as well. Meaning, if they have been banned for a minimum of one year, they may post an appeal for the staff to review.
Q: What about members who evaded their ban/suspension in the past?
A: These members will have the same rights as other banned members in regards to a ban appeal. Since it historically has been so that the only way for a member to resume activity on MtG Salvation after being banned, is to make a gimmick, and that an appeal process has been practically non-existent, these members will also get a shot at an appeal.
Q: Does this mean we will be overrun with previously banned members?
A: Unlikely. These appeals will be considered carefully, and only those who show signs of reformation and a clear intention and will to come back and be a productive member of the community, are allowed to return.
Q: Will the community know when a previously banned member has been unbanned?
A: Whenever a previously banned user gets unbanned and is put on probation, a post in the "Currently Suspended/Banned Users" thread will explain it.
Q: Can we request members to be unbanned?
A: We will only consider appeals submitted by the banned member in question. You can certainly encourage this member to appeal, but we will not review appeals on behalf of other members.
Additionally, if a member has been banned from MtG Salvation in the past and is currently using a gimmick account, we ask that that member step forward and tell us in the Staff Inbox. If that member does this, he or she will be immediately allowed to appeal, and may, if circumstances dictate it, stay unbanned on the terms of a 1-year probation. However, starting June 1st, 2012, ban evading members will, once again, be banned once uncovered.
Galspanic has been promoted to Global Moderator. The administrators appreciate all of the hard work he's put into the Market Street forums over the past few months. Congratulations, Galspanic.
Arnnaria requested to be removed from his position in the Legacy subforums to become a permanent moderator in Water Cooler Talk. His request has been granted.
Korsakovia, Warden, and poppeleseed will continue on as the moderators for the Legacy subforum. At this time, there is no plan to fill the spot left by Arnnaria.
Annorax has stepped down from his post of Administrator. On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to thank Annorax for his contributions to these forums and for all the long hour and hard work he has given over the years.
There is no planned replacement for Annorax at this time.
Until today, it used to be that if you get banned, you get banned permanently, with no possibility of a return. Not too long ago, we didn't even have an appeal process for banned or suspended members, and members who got banned, deservedly so or not, had two choices: either stay away from MtG Salvation forever, or make gimmick accounts to evade their bans.
However, this site is now quite old, and members who were banned as irresponsible teenagers might now be adults. People mature, people change. In quite a few cases, keeping these members away from the site is doing a disservice to the site and the community. This is something the MtG Salvation staff recognizes, and as such, we are changing our policy regarding banned members. The new policy is as follows:
Q: How does this policy affect previously banned members?
A: The new policy applies to previously banned members as well. Meaning, if they have been banned for a minimum of one year, they may post an appeal for the staff to review.
Q: What about members who evaded their ban/suspension in the past?
A: These members will have the same rights as other banned members in regards to a ban appeal. Since it historically has been so that the only way for a member to resume activity on MtG Salvation after being banned, is to make a gimmick, and that an appeal process has been practically non-existent, these members will also get a shot at an appeal.
Q: Does this mean we will be overrun with previously banned members?
A: Unlikely. These appeals will be considered carefully, and only those who show signs of reformation and a clear intention and will to come back and be a productive member of the community, are allowed to return.
Q: Will the community know when a previously banned member has been unbanned?
A: Whenever a previously banned user gets unbanned and is put on probation, a post in the "Currently Suspended/Banned Users" thread will explain it.
Q: Can we request members to be unbanned?
A: We will only consider appeals submitted by the banned member in question. You can certainly encourage this member to appeal, but we will not review appeals on behalf of other members.
Additionally, if a member has been banned from MtG Salvation in the past and is currently using a gimmick account, we ask that that member step forward and tell us in the Staff Inbox. If that member does this, he or she will be immediately allowed to appeal, and may, if circumstances dictate it, stay unbanned on the terms of a 1-year probation. However, starting June 1st, 2012, ban evading members will, once again, be banned once uncovered.
Thanks,
The MtG Salvation Staff
Galspanic has been promoted to Global Moderator. The administrators appreciate all of the hard work he's put into the Market Street forums over the past few months. Congratulations, Galspanic.
TK-421 has been added as a moderator for the Rumor Mill and its child subforums.
rianalnn has been added as a fourth member of the administrative team.
Koopa has been added as a moderator to the Standard forums.
Sene and viperesque have both been added as members of the Global staff.
MandersHex has been added as a moderator of the Mafia subforum.
Kraj has returned to the staff and taken up his old position as a Global Moderator.
It is with great pride that Annorax and I welcome Azrael into our ranks as an administrator.
Arnnaria requested to be removed from his position in the Legacy subforums to become a permanent moderator in Water Cooler Talk. His request has been granted.
Korsakovia, Warden, and poppeleseed will continue on as the moderators for the Legacy subforum. At this time, there is no plan to fill the spot left by Arnnaria.
rianalnn has been added as a moderator of the Artwork subforum. Expect more changes to be made to the Artwork team in the coming days.