Even though I've been a member for the last two years or so, I still haven't grasped the idea of banning people. If they're strolls who deliberately joined to cause troubles, then of course they deserve to be banned, but if they're good, long standing members then I fail to see what we'll accomplish by banning them?
I understand the necessary of rules and the consequences that follow if rules are broken. But if every times a person breaks a rule, he/she will get banned - then eventually there will be no more people on the forum!, or at the very least, there will be no more passionate people who dare speaking their minds & voicing their opinions against the current.
Plus, I can't help but shiver at the thoughts that every time a person sins, God will ban him/her from entering His Church & receiving His mercy. It is indeed a very scary thought.
When some people get soooo passionate about something to the point that they loose their temper defending it.. They may violate a few rules in doing so.. (I assume this is the most common reason people get banned), but isn't it more benefit for us to give them a chance to recognize their mistakes, learn from them & be better, and take each occassion as a chance for all of us to learn with them - than to disown & thus loose them & all chances forever?