[julie5607]

Well, that is exactly my point. The system is automated and opaque to most users, nobody seems to know exactly how many boots, or unfinished hands, or internet disconnects will trigger a ban, and there is no published BBO policy regarding autobans and how to appeal them. The general assumption is that they are short, and deserved, and so be it.

In my case, abuse told me that the computer knows all, and if it records that I didn't finish enough hands to warrant a ban, that's that, no appeals. It was only my persistence and sense of unfairness that led me to recall the teaching tables and ask if they would have been included in my play records. Abuse was right, the computer was right, I had abandoned too many hands - but I had no idea that my zeal as a beta tester was endangering my status as a player in the MBC.

It wouldn't take much to add a help topic regarding autobans and what will trigger them, along with some of the "non-abusive" potential pitfalls. Then if someone appeals to a yellow they can be directed to that page. I have no doubt that the bulk of the bans are warranted, and the bulk of appeals will begin with "I only booted those "experts" who made "novice" plays", etc. But there should be some process in place to assist the true innocents like me.

Julie

[Walddk]

My guess is that most users don't know what causes an autoban. Would it not be a good idea to have that info in the lobby news occasionally, perhaps a link to the appropriate page if it is too comprehensive to explain there?

Roland

[Tola18]

Im thinking. You unlucky guys did quite a lot to get on yourself these most unlucky bans.
Although one of my bridge friends did get banned after a evening with bad connection (and a multiple short disconnections in a tourney playing with me)

But it also means, a normal player with a normal connection can ban and or left in midplay several times each session without anything happening!

Ie, you can be quite a nasty player, abandoning several hands in midplay every day.
This being apparently not unusual.

A mild three-days ban occurs first when you are more or less actively making sabotage on the activities, setting in system go in, play a couple of hands, left in midplay. Immediately next table, same, and same and same...

I dont think the setting is too harsh, I think it is rather too mild.

[rbforster]

Walddk, on May 21 2007, 10:24 AM, said:

My guess is that most users don't know what causes an autoban. Would it not be a good idea to have that info in the lobby news occasionally, perhaps a link to the appropriate page if it is too comprehensive to explain there?

Most people won't care until they get banned. Surely a link to a description of the policies would be in order along with the banned notice when you log in?

I and I'm sure almost everyone else has had this problem of trying to reserve a spot for their friend while a parade of random people keep stepping into the free seat. Surely this is as simple as adding "Reject All for the next 15 seconds" as a button? Then you can fix the table settings to require permission, only boot one person, and then get things set up properly.

[matmat]

BebopKid, on May 18 2007, 04:07 PM, said:

Looks like to me, changing the table to require people to ask permission is a no-brainer.

Booting people is rude. Ignorance is no excuse, I think you should serve you time being banned and get over it.

on the flip side, sitting down at someone's table just assuming that it is w/o asking persmission is rude too.


maybe the "require permission to join" button should be on the main window and not burried in some sort of a settings sub-menu?