why do people get banned at shaving sites?

Atalk and @"Bruce", how ridiculous. Sometimes I wonder if certain sites desire to create mindless consumers that are more interested in buying products than actually shaving. If the concept of a sabbatical is taboo, it's not a large step to banning members who give negative reviews to vendor products. Some folks would do anything to protect their bottom line.

I was banned from the Shavenook for "trolling" (literally, a permanent ban with a single word explanation). Anyone who knows me and my posts should realize how ridiculous that charge is.

As for the actual reason, I suspect it was two things: First, I made a negative observation about a paying vendor that is favored by the mods (one of their mods called this observation "trolling", and literally explained that my analytical way of reviewing was a problem), and gave a positive review to Barrister & Mann's Night Music; second, I made a call for free discussion without bias from the mods/admins, observing that their moderation team selectively moderates certain posts positively and shuts down others quickly, depending on whether or not the vendor pays them. I had quite a few private messages from members asking what one of their admins had against me personally in order to treat me as he did.

Very suspicious site. I find it hilarious that the mods/admins maintain this authority by simply stating that they don't give reasons for why members are banned. Convenient, ain't it?

And honestly, vendors should take this into account when they advertise on sites like TSN. Consider this: If you give money knowingly to a site that is practically one big advertisement masquerading as a forum (a forum that bans people indiscriminately), you're indirectly contributing to their shady practices. When members see admins/moderators bullying members for holding contrary opinions, or shutting down threads and banning members on trumped up charges, they are smart enough to realize that the site is compromised and its posts have no credibility. People aren't stupid.

I am sorry for your experience. I got into a run in with a vendor over on the same forum. The topic was price per shave vis-a-vis overall cost of the soap. I commented on two soaps, one was MdC and the other, which I will not mention, is an extremely popular soap on that site. I said something to the effect that I thought I could get X amount of soaps from MdC and X from the unnamed soap. That's when the vendor jumped in and said that my facts were all wrong etc. etc. I felt bullied and eventually apologized. In retrospect I should NOT have mentioned that vendor's soap, it was a mistake and I acknowledge that, but the bullying was uncalled for and has since soured my opinion of the Nook. Too bad, because I was really enjoying the site. Don't see that here on DFS, so thanks to the mods for keeping that in check.

Had a very similar experience on TSN and perhaps about the same soap from the same vendor. And all I commented was the price-value ratio. I was also very much surprised and disheartened recently when I saw NeoX banned for just being a thorough reviewer... The third and the last situation that made me consider leaving the Nook was when I felt personally attacked by one of the former mods (if I recall correctly) for making a case that unless someone is qualified to assess and evaluate other members' skills and knowledge, that person should at least do it in the presence of the one he was criticizing...

To make a long story short - I will be closing my TSN account as of March 1. I will miss interacting with many great TSN members I grew to appreciate very much, but I am relieved to see many of you on this forum!

On a different but related-noted - a few years ago, some members of another shaving site received bans because they were trying to organize a purchasing restraint/sabbatical.  IMO, restraints and sabbaticals are fairly harmless things to discuss........people have a choice to join or not.  Yet the banhammer was quick to fall and the topic was quickly buried.  It wasn't until a few weeks later where I pieced it all together.....

In any case, I very much enjoy this forum where we can openly discuss and converse (as long as we behave )

That's funny. Just look at my signature. I have NOT promoted this on TSN, however on TSD, there are quite a few of us and there is a thread that is quite often posted to NB '16. Does that tell you a lot about the differences between Fora?

Just curious but has anyone ever received "Warning Level" points on TSN or any other shaving forums? I wasn't sure what it was but I researched it and apparently it's a way to track a member's bad behavior or actions which lets them know they are on track to getting banned. I haven't ever seen that on any other forums but never really looked either.

Hobbyist I don't know about anyone else, but I can tell you that the moment before I was banned my "warning level" was at 0%.

The warning level points are not used. I've asked about it in the past & was told as such. I've never seen, nor heard any different since.

Hobbyist I don't know about anyone else, but I can tell you that the moment before I was banned my "warning level" was at 0%.

Thanks. Not surprising.

The warning level points are not used. I've asked about it in the past & was told as such. I've never seen, nor heard any different since.

Thanks.

As of recent I limit my time on TSN to very seldom. Could be related to discussions mentioned above - a mod put down people that had itching or burning experiences with a particular soap maker. Suggesting these people had ulterior motives, making false accusations, and trolling because they never had actually bought the product. I spent $40 on these two soaps w/ shipping and experienced a little itch and burning and posted my experience, but to him I was lying.

The warning level points are not used. I've asked about it in the past & was told as such. I've never seen, nor heard any different since.

Why do they even exist then? That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard of on a forum, warning level points....sheesh. Whatever happened to talking and working things out like real men?

As of recent I limit my time on TSN to very seldom. Could be related to discussions mentioned above - a mod put down people that had itching or burning experiences with a particular soap maker. Suggesting these people had ulterior motives, making false accusations, and trolling because they never had actually bought the product. I spent $40 on these two soaps w/ shipping and experienced a little itch and burning and posted my experience, but to him I was lying.

That was me lol. I simply observed that others had those allergic experiences and that I was worried about having the same (due to my sensitive skin), but that in itself was considered trolling and a certain administrator was quick to say so. I'm not surprised that this particular administrator was after you too.