[ThePenguin]

This thread was not moved as part of a "cover-up." It was deemed that since CarneVaca is not a member of the Rumours lineup of Fleetwood Mac, and since the thread pertains instead to a situation that has arisen on the Ledge boards, it would be moved to the appropriate place.

This has been done on many occasions in the past, and is nothing unusual.

Historically, it has not been the policy of the Ledge moderators to publicly discuss the reasons behind strikes and bans (so as to avoid embarrassing a poster if they don't want that information revealed), but due to the unusual number of requests we feel it is necessary to clear up any misinterpretations surrounding CarneVaca's ban. So this statement is being made as a courtesy.

Despite doubts to the contrary, our decision to ban CarneVaca had absolutely nothing to do with his criticism of the way the Ledge is run, or any criticisms directed at the moderators.

It was found that CarneVaca was using two additional usernames, Dulcimer and NoThatFunny, to deceptively engage in the harassment and debasement of other users (not to mention casting multiple votes in the Survivor games), going back and forth between his usernames to post taunts and insults, so as to perpetuate the arguments even after he had claimed to have bowed out as CarneVaca.

Such actions were deemed as willful, calculated, serious breaches of the FAQ, and certainly against the overall friendly environment we hope to maintain on The Ledges.

Based on our FAQs, harassment, taunting, and excessive insults are clearly against the rules.

There is not an explicit rule in the guidelines forbidding the possession of multiple usernames, as it has always been believed that rationality would dictate that the use of multiple usernames to deliberately and clandestinely engage in strike-worthy behavior would not be tolerated. In the real world, the adoption of an alias does not exonerate someone of any wrong-doing they may have engaged in under another name, and the same holds true here.

CarneVaca has not been banned for having multiple usernames, but for the way in which he used them. However, in the future such similar actions will automatically earn three strikes and a ban. Additionally, all strikes will now be accompanied by a minimum 48-hour temporary ban.

We were not at all happy about having to ban CarneVaca, and in fact a great deal of consideration and discussion went into our decision. It pained us, but we also couldn’t stand by and allow the rules against harassment/taunting/insulting behavior in the FAQ to be continually and willfully violated.

We also knew others would not be happy about our decision, and we took this into consideration at all times, but CarneVaca’s behavior ultimately created a hostile environment and is strike-worthy. Taking into account that he already possessed two strikes (which he’s publicly stated in the past), he was therefore awarded his third strike and banned.

The ban has been issued and is final, it is not up for debate. People are free to comment on the decision, but should watch that their responses are measured and do not violate the FAQ. Polls to bring back CarneVaca will be promptly closed.

Although some may disagree with the decision even after knowing what happened, the moderators still feel that the decision is in the best interest of all Ledgies, and had to be made in order to uphold the FAQ.

- The Ledge Moderators