[q] what is the maximum punishment possible on this site

[United States Of Alpha]

I saw Lyostan getting DEAT’d and I was wondering what is the maximum punishment for those who seem like their only goal is to break the rules, or at least have a blatant disregard for them?

[The Lazarene Republic]

Delete-on-sight: known DOS users are automatically banned, hence the name

[Camtropia]

Delete-on-sight: known DOS users are automatically banned, hence the name

The REAL maximum punishment is you and a large portion of your home country gets IP banned.

Fortunately for everyone, ISPs don't use the same IP address for entire regions anymore, and the mods now have better tools to deal with individual problem users

[Fahran]

As The Lazarene Republic else has indicated, the most stern action we can take is ruling someone delete-on-site (DOS). This usually occurs as a result of multiple severe violations of the rules over multiple accounts, where warnings, bans, and DEATs do not contribute to improved behavior. IP bans are a tool to make it more difficult to skirt around bans and DOS status.

[Russian Brotherhood]

Max Barry coming to your house and breaking your knees. (This is a joke)

[Vastiuq]

As The Lazarene Republic else has indicated, the most stern action we can take is ruling someone delete-on-site (DOS). This usually occurs as a result of multiple severe violations of the rules over multiple accounts, where warnings, bans, and DEATs do not contribute to improved behavior. IP bans are a tool to make it more difficult to skirt around bans and DOS status.

If you don't mind me asking has there been any case or is it even possible for someone to get removed from the DOS list?

[Fahran]

If you don't mind me asking has there been any case or is it even possible for someone to get removed from the DOS list?

It has happened, yes, but it's relatively rare. Ideally, we would like our players to avoid getting DOS-ed altogether.

Max Barry coming to your house and breaking your knees. (This is a joke)

While this is a fascinating idea, I ask that you please not spam Moderation.

[Bears Armed]

Haven't there been a few cases where users threatening or boasting of illegal actions were mentioned to law enforcement?

[Fahran]

Haven't there been a few cases where users threatening or boasting of illegal actions were mentioned to law enforcement?

We're internet jannies, not IRL jannies.

Any illegal activities you commit are between you and the criminal justice system. If evidence of said crimes is present in your online activities, any number of people may have the ability to provide said evidence to the local authorities - and, in fact, this may be a legal or moral obligation under certain circumstances. But I wouldn't perceive that as internet jannies imposing a penalty on a person.

Unfortunately, we're not allowed to consign members of the forums to pony farms. I've asked multiple times. So, as I said, the maximum penalty we impose is DOS status.

[Reploid Productions]

Haven't there been a few cases where users threatening or boasting of illegal actions were mentioned to law enforcement?

To add to Fahran's comment: Infrequently, and in especially serious situations that have happened on-site; somebody is usually DOSed long before something that severe occurs. But at that point, it's going well beyond the scope of mere website rules enforcement that OP's asking about. We're talking things such as a user posting CSEM, another talking in concerning detail about their desire and plans to bomb a school (apparently the FBI agreed it rang enough alarm bells, I had a response within less than 24 hours to that report requesting additional info,) that sort of thing. Or that time years and years and years ago where law enforcement came to us about a user we'd banned after they tried to use NSG as their personal terror plan blog.

Usually our problems are far more mundane than that, or aren't serious enough/clear enough to go that far.

[The Byzantine Caliphate]

Has Max or the admins ever gotten a F.I.S.A. order or National Security Letter from the N.S.A. [if you are permitted to say]? As a non American would he even have to comply?

[United Calanworie]

Has Max or the admins ever gotten a F.I.S.A. order or National Security Letter from the N.S.A. [if you are permitted to say]? As a non American would he even have to comply?

…you realize that if we had, it would be illegal to say so, yes? Either way, the answer is “no, we have not received a NSL,” because there are two options:
- we have never received one
or
- we have received one

[EcoWondra]

Has Max or the admins ever gotten a F.I.S.A. order or National Security Letter from the N.S.A. [if you are permitted to say]? As a non American would he even have to comply?

I mean, on the one hand, he wouldn’t have the same legal obligation to comply, but on the other, the U.S. doesn’t have much trouble reaching out and touching Australia, so who can say.

Has Max or the admins ever gotten a F.I.S.A. order or National Security Letter from the N.S.A. [if you are permitted to say]? As a non American would he even have to comply?

…you realize that if we had, it would be illegal to say so, yes? Either way, the answer is “no, we have not received a NSL,” because there are two options:
- we have never received one
or
- we have received one

Illuminating! Thanks for the clarification, UC, as if it needed to be laid out in writing at this length. We can all see what role the site is designed to fulfill, you don’t have to dispel all the mystery in actual text.

[Refuge Isle]

We're internet jannies, not IRL jannies.

Well...