Banned user Rights

[rnn-2]

I have a user that I banned, he's writing me telling me that if he hasn't violated the forum rules or policy, which he hasn't, I have to allow him in.

He was a PIA in another forum ( I just don't like him) so I banned him, he is threating legal action.

Is he correct do I need to let him in?

Does freedom of speech or something else come into play here?

Has anyone ever been sued?

[Dilly]

Of course you don't need to let him in. It's your forum, you don't owe him anything.

There is no such thing as freedom of speech.

[rnn-2]

Forgot to explain, there are other members talking about him and he claims he has no way to defend himself, therefor freedom of speech

[yogib]

Do you have a Terms of Use policy? You can point a section out to the user where they are in violation.

[rnn-2]

As I said their not in violation?

[yogib]

Just trying to help. If he's not violating anything in your terms, why don't you update your terms that reflects the behavior, and give the user a warning.

I don't know about banning someone just because you don't like them...would you want places you post to ban you just because? (I'm not trying to be a smart a...)

[Floris]

Freedom of speech is void as soon as they sign up. Plain an simple.
It is your site, your rules. Without prior notice you can block whoever you want with a reason or not. Let them complain and threat and go to court. It's his time and trouble, and his money he's wasting. I've banned enough people as a preventive measure. They complained, I ignored. Getting access to a web site is a privilege, not a right.

[Floris]

Forgot to explain, there are other members talking about him and he claims he has no way to defend himself, therefor freedom of speech

wiki:

"Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship.Freedom of speech is one of the crowning achievments in civilization however many people being opprotunists abuse freedom of speech to launch endless waves of verbal hand grenades although this freedom was meant to be able to speak ones mind without government opposition many now simply interperet this freedom to simply mean the right to be legitimately intolerant."

[Shane]

No lawyer would take the case. It be a total waste of time, even if you did it yourself. I think even in the vB register text it says that you can be banned for any reason.

[Onimua]

Just trying to help. If he's not violating anything in your terms, why don't you update your terms that reflects the behavior, and give the user a warning.

I don't know about banning someone just because you don't like them...would you want places you post to ban you just because? (I'm not trying to be a smart a...)

Sometimes it happens.

It's your site, your rules, you allow them to be on your site. They're not paying for it, they're not supporting it, they're just visiting. It's like going to someone's house; it's theirs, not yours. If they don't want you to be there, don't go, and if you still try it, you're trespassing.

[birdie]

he is threating legal action.

I make pubic fools of these people by starting a thread on the threats. I just tell them that "I am really looking forward to seeing you in court. Bring it on."

[ManagerJosh]

My personal belief is that if something happens on another site, but my community isn't dragged in, then it stays there and they aren't banned from my community.

However if something happens in another site, and my community can be potentially dragged into it, or has been dragged into it, they are banned.

[Chazel]

Be aware that you can ban anyone for any reason whatsoever, just as you can do with your own home.

He's blowing smoke, and think logically: who's going to pay thousands of dollars in lawyer fees to regain access to a forum?

[ManagerJosh]

Then again there are lawyers who would pursue frivolous lawsuits if there's a quick buck to be made

[Fusion]

Then again there are lawyers who would pursue frivolous lawsuits if there's a quick buck to be made

Yeah, at least they'd threaten on behalf of the client(s) as a scare-tactic to make you settle out of court.