I suppose this is aimed at me.

Okay then, fuck this. I will NEVER report a reccurring cheater again. And i know of at least two more. HF.

@Mad I dunno wether you took what I said in the Xlink page for yourself, but you know how much I appreciate you and what i was saying was more of an open discussion, especially regarding my clan mates and there opinion, not something aimed at you . I, for one, am glad you reported Xlink as a previously known cheater and I honnestly say good job and nice flair.

But I would like to discuss the way cheaters are handled though... I of course have my own opinions, but I would like to hear that of others and wether I agree or not, I will listen.

Any way, all this to say please don't get offended, I don't think mow's post was directed at you, maybe more of a general incentive to discuss the way we should handle cheaters...

PS: I hope I'm not throwing gas on the fire, my intention was exactly the opposite.

I understand perfectly.

As i understand it, there is no expiration date to it. And i seem to recall Rena saying something in the lines that it was a law institutioned by the collective of server admins?

I must say, this lack of consistency is getting to me.

[After-writing-thoughts: DAMN I have a hard time staying on topic. I've deleted far more than what's left.]

Touched on the subject during the Panic-drama and didn't exactly get the feeling my view was appreciated, but anyway...

I agree with not going overkill and comparing cheating to murder and such ridiculous stuff. You don't have to have any mental problems whatsoever to load a cheat and play, and often human curiousity could even drive you to atleast try it out. After that point I guess it's about how clever you are; if you make sure to absolutely not harm anyone, don't get busted and remove all traces, or if you're disrespectful and cheat against others and get your ass banned. Or are a plain rookie that doesn't know what files you definitely should not have in your folder when joining a PB enabled server.

Would be nice if kids who stayed out too late for their first time were grounded for life

Have talked to a lot of cheaters. And sure, most of them are idiots. Then again, most clean people more or less act like idiots when cheataccusing and discussing the subject aswell. But some really genuinely did not know, some really just wanted to try it out of curiousity or actually even want to "study" (lacking better word) it or parts of it but accidentally mess up, and some are cool people who just happen to think cheating is fun (omg does dis exist?? no must b irreversible evil, pure satanspawns all of them!).

But what do we do with the first two, and the last if he/she genuinely wants to drop cheating and play normally with everyone else? Actually think it over and see what we can do or spend five seconds typing a flawed, overused saying?

Orpheus pointed out something very true; basically the preferrence of the enemy you know over the one you don't. A banned cheater is likely to come back, new nick, clan, guid, ip... And a lesson learnt - but what lesson? "Do not cheat?" Can just aswell be "I got busted because of [reason]. This time, I will not fall into that trap and cheat better."

Some one given a second chance though - sure, punishment first, X amount of time banned and the inevitable abuse and eyes watching every step - is just the better solution (still my opinion). One, we know who to watch. Two, possible innocents and true repenters will not get burnt just because it's easier to damn everyone to hell. Three, I honestly believe the general atmosphere, and specifically concerning the case, would be far better.

Fuck up again - well, bye bye. Then they got their shot I guess, at that point I don't see a better solution.

But it's just that one shot, even for some one who really did cheat, to get a chance to improve... Everyone who compares to real crimes - how often is a REAL lifetime sentence given? Or death sentence? And while there sure are a lot of criminals who continue, are there not many who change?

Hell... Have YOU never done anything illegal? And wouldn't you be damn careful about doing it in the future if you were busted and punished if it wasn't worth it?

In the end, this is - as much as I hate saying so myself - just a game. This doesn't allow behaving anyway you want though; in fact it makes just ruining others' fun a - or THE - crime, right? Therefore, make sure to take appropriate measures in the right cases, or even more fun will be ruined. Crushed hopes, bad circles and grudges are way too easy to create. One very good way, one of the best, is to be an ass to and deny some one a chance even if he genuinely wants to change.

[After-writing-thoughts #2]
I see a bunch of posts more than the sole topic starter when I hit reply xD

I also don't think this has anything with Mad to do at all, save the possibility that one (not bad) post brought incentive to start a discussion about a subject already (always) there.

The rule is clear, on this we can only agree.

We can also discuss the rule (with no guarantee of effect), which I hope is what we're doing Or I'm just whining bored at work, I don't know. Atleast I try! \

before that law, actual law was "ban for life" even though it might not have been written down.

so, following your analogy, he should be punished following that law, right?