Is calling someone a "fanboy" worth a 7 day ban from the Gamer Zone?

Today, I was given a 7 day ban from the Gamer Zone for calling someone a "fanboy".  I have confirmed with the moderator in question that this is what resulted in the ban.  There was no warning of any sort beforehand.

I am not here to vent or complain, but since this is a community site, I wanted to ask N4G users the following:  Do you think that calling someone a "fanboy" in the Gamer Zone is worth a 7 day ban without any other warning?   Is "fanboy" even really an insult, given that some people refer to themselves as one with some measure of pride?

To me, it seems a bit like killing a housefly with a hand grenade, but I'm obvious bias so I wanted to hear input from the community, such as we are.

[mindedone]

A ban from one small part of a gaming website, wherein there is another part that serves almost the same purpose, will have no lasting effect on you. In other words, it's not a big deal.

Furthermore, and insult is such because of the inherent connotation of the word, and the context in which it is used. As of yet, the word "fanboy" may have no inherent negative meaning, but if you meant it negatively, then it is insulting.

[Silellak]

It's not a matter of surviving it, or even really whether or not "fanboy" is an insult.

It's just a question for people at N4G - is a relatively minor (not racist, not sexist, non-swearing) insult worth a 7 day ban without any sort of warning to the user that they crossed the line?

What sort of site punishes users without warning them unless the user does something extremely offensive?

[xsteinbachx]

I agree Silellak especially when i see people flaming the Gamer Zone constantly.

[gta_cb]

i agree, i do see some "fanboys" flaming in the gaming section when they obviously should be in the other section. at least i now know not to ever call anyone a fanboy as i like to log in once in a while =p

[Meus Renaissance]

"Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, OR other words from the console war VOCABULARY, is strictly prohibited in this Zone."

Well its definitely not allowed although I don't know if the 7 Day ban is a standard punishment for the offence.

[toughNAME]

I'm not sure if the mods have a policy...but maybe you just caught them on a bad day?

A 24 hour ban? Yeah sure thats really nothing but it would have sent the message

It's amazing how some can get a away with so much...yet you get punished for calling someone a fanboy

[Silellak]

I've already spoken to the party involved, and have agreed to "serve my time" so to speak, despite disagreeing with the reasons for the ban. I know the mods have a hard, thankless job and I don't want to make it any more difficult for anyone.

It's not really a big deal, but I just think, for the future, there should be some sort of general "warning" policy before a banstick starts getting waved around.

Just my 2 cents.

[Jinxstar]

Depends on context. Some people are touchy bro. Personally I think your right with your housefly hand grenade analogy but I dont know what the reference is. If you said something like "You only think that way cause your fan boy" Then prolly insulting. If you said "Fanboys all feel the same way" IMHO not justified... As it could mean a number of things and possibly not even in direct reference to any person...

No worries though man.

[LastDance]

your lucky...i got a 2 week ban...i dont even know what i did.

im sure i insulted some1 sumwhere in some thread.

[LJWooly]

It annoys me that you got banned, but people like Genuine, whose liberal use of the word 'Nazi' to refer to 'Sony fanboys' is actually quite offensive, do not get banned at all.

I agree that this should happen as standard,(apart from in the open zone, obviously) but it isn't happening as standard, just one or two people getting banned every now and then.

There should be some sort of incentive for people to visit the Open Zone. That way, the 'fanboys' on the site would be attracted to the Open Zone, leaving the Gamer Zone free of 'fanboys'.

Also, always say 'fanboys' rather than fanboys :)

[mirroredderorrim]

The real question is.. can you get a 7 day ban for calling yourself a fanboy?
I'd try, but I like posting in the gamer zone. Sorry about your ban, guy.

[ChickeyCantor]

here is a private message from one of the EX-members of N4g:
( not gonna mention his screen name because that wont be needed )

Well f*ck this Sony biased site.
Notice this guys comments? http://www.n4g.com/up/10461...

In this Super Smash Bros. Brawl review story http://www.n4g.com/wii/News...

Let's see what he has to say in the Gamer Zone...

over hyped
this game is 7
so much hype

i give halo3 a 7
because it really was just an expansion pack
they should have call it halo 2.5

call of duty 4 was a step up
alot better than 3
@Intrepid i have a us & pal wii modded (wiikey)
so if you no what i been playing
Super Smash Bros for a while now
(maybe its me) but game is just too kiddie

MLG hahahahahaha
MLG game is a joke
the W11 is a joke 95% sucks
online super sucks
both my W11 are collecting dusts
and i have almost ever game for it
my kids dont play nomore
W11 sports is the best thing on there

And here is my comment mocking his trolling saying he doesn't have a Wii and such...
- deleted by mod -

Oh and I got banned for 2 or so days yet his comments are still there not deleted. Glad to see they are on the trolls side.

Well anyways f*ck n4g's Sony biased mods i'm never comming back. This just proves they won't do sh/t about them and they will continue to troll the main site. If they made me a mod just 1 freakin day i'd get rid of all the painfully obvious trolls and put whoever is moderating this site to shame. Well good bye this communist site can kiss my @ss.
-------------------------

There ya go....and its true, i do wonder if mods even pay attention....the only reason i can think of ...they might be drunk while clicking the ban button

[TheIneffableBob]

Yes, it is worth a 7 day ban.