XenForo Drama

[Slavik]

But doesn't he have a legal right to access them with an active license? In other words, isn't XF breaking the terms of the agreement if he's denied that access?

No. A license gains you access to the license and appropriate updates and ticket support based on when it expires. Access to the forums and resources are a privilege we grant license users at our discretion.

 

[FTL]

Ok, worth clarifying.

 

[Slavik]

Ok, worth clarifying.

I think its been in the license agreement specifically mentioning that for around the last 5 years or so.

 

[FTL]

I've not read it since I got my first license in 2021.

 

[Starbucks]

No. A license gains you access to the license and appropriate updates and ticket support based on when it expires. Access to the forums and resources are a privilege we grant license users at our discretion.

Why don’t you change that rule to “view-only” and “download-only”? So they can still download and access the addons that are listed here on XF.

 

[mjda]

Why don’t you change that rule to “view-only” and “download-only”? So they can still download and access the addons that are listed here on XF.

Or, and this may be a crazy idea, folks could just follow the rules and not get themselves banned and they wouldn't have to worry about it.

 

[Starbucks]

Or, and this may be a crazy idea, folks could just follow the rules and not get themselves banned and they wouldn't have to worry about it.

No, I disagree. It’s like Apple restricting access to the App Store. The severity of the action should align with the offense. If a user has breached XenForo’s security or caused significant harm to the system, XenForo would have the right to limit access entirely.

However, based on what I understand, Tracy’s case doesn’t involve that level of infraction. Engaging in heated discussions or debates is not a justifiable reason to revoke all access to XenForo’s extensions or add-ons.

Making such a decision based on personal emotions (like your comment) rather than objective policy could lead to inconsistent and unjust enforcement.

 

[mjda]

However, based on what I understand, Tracy’s case doesn’t involve that level of infraction. Engaging in heated discussions or debates is not a justifiable reason to revoke all access to XenForo’s extensions or add-ons.

Making such a decision based on personal emotions (like your comment) rather than objective policy could lead to inconsistent and unjust enforcement.

My comment is definitely not emotional. I couldn't care less what the policy is. It doesn't affect me whatsoever because I'll never do anything to get myself permanently banned from here.

As for Tracy, none of us know exactly what all led up to him being permanently banned, but I seriously doubt he was banned for simply "engaging in heated discussions or debates" and I also doubt that he wasn't warned multiple times before a permanent ban was issued.

You reap what you sow.

 

[Suzanne O]

Good work! Nothing more worse than those threats.

 

[Starbucks]

My comment is definitely not emotional. I couldn't care less what the policy is. It doesn't affect me whatsoever because I'll never do anything to get myself permanently banned from here.

As for Tracy, none of us know exactly what all led up to him being permanently banned, but I seriously doubt he was banned for simply "engaging in heated discussions or debates" and I also doubt that he wasn't warned multiple times before a permanent ban was issued.

You reap what you sow.

Well, that’s true, we don’t have the full picture of what led to Tracy’s permanent ban, and there could have been much more involved. However, I still believe that completely cutting off access to all resources is a bit too much. A more balanced approach might be to restrict forum access while still allowing access to the resources section.

If XenForo has a firm policy on banning users from accessing addons etc, developers may want to reconsider hosting their add-ons exclusively on the XenForo resources section. If I were in that position, I’d prefer to direct users to my own website for downloads (go-to downloads button), ensuring they could still access my content regardless of their violations on XenForo. Whether or not they’ve violated the rules shouldn’t automatically lead to a total loss of access to resources.

But again, you’re right about not having the full picture. Maybe there was more, maybe there wasn’t. I don’t think they’d tell us as it’s none of our business.

 

[mjda]

If XenForo has a firm policy on banning users from accessing addons etc, developers may want to reconsider hosting their add-ons exclusively on the XenForo resources section. If I were in that position, I’d prefer to direct users to my own website for downloads (go-to downloads button), ensuring they could still access my content regardless of their violations on XenForo. Whether or not they’ve violated the rules shouldn’t automatically lead to a total loss of access to resources.

This is a good argument and the only thing I could say is that I'd imagine that #1) a vast majority of people probably don't get banned from here so it's unlikely that much revenue is lost to developers because of this policy and #2) it's even more unlikely that each person who is banned is a customer of many developers anyways.

Tracy would, obviously, be an exception but his case, I doubt, is the standard.

 

[Wing]

My comment is definitely not emotional. I couldn't care less what the policy is. It doesn't affect me whatsoever because I'll never do anything to get myself permanently banned from here.

As for Tracy, none of us know exactly what all led up to him being permanently banned, but I seriously doubt he was banned for simply "engaging in heated discussions or debates" and I also doubt that he wasn't warned multiple times before a permanent ban was issued.

You reap what you sow.

No offense, but the fact you were even bothered to make this thread here on the Xenforo official forums spews “emotional”. Last thing we need here - is more drama.

 

[Slavik]

1) a vast majority of people probably don't get banned from here

Correct. Most people, even those who pick up warnings and infractions, dont usually even end up in moderation.

However, I still believe that completely cutting off access to all resources is a bit too much. A more balanced approach might be to restrict forum access while still allowing access to the resources section.

As previously mentioned, access to the forum and anything within is a privilege not a right, and will remain that way.

 

[mjda]

No offense, but the fact you were even bothered to make this thread here on the Xenforo official forums spews “emotional”. Last thing we need here - is more drama.

As I've already said, I made this topic because I didn't want to reply to the quoted posts in the thread they were posted in because I didn't want to derail the topic. But, sure, we can go with emotional. Really doesn't make me any difference.

I just find this all very entertaining, especially if it's true that these dudes are actually all the same person and it would appear as though they very well could be.

 

[Starbucks]

As previously mentioned, access to the forum and anything within is a privilege not a right, and will remain that way.

I understand your stance that access to the forum is a privilege, and not a right, but I respectfully disagree with the approach to moderation.

I also think It’s no secret that I have different views on how business is conducted here, despite my appreciation for the software itself.

I strongly believe XenForo should take a closer look at these decisions before they potentially escalate into something more serious, such as real legal action from an angry customer, due to these extreme measures that may be viewed as… disproportionate.

But again, it’s not my company, and you’re free to do whatever you want, as long as it is ethical.

 

[Starbucks]

I just find this all very entertaining, especially if it's true that these dudes are actually all the same person and it would appear as though they very well could be.

I’m curious, on what things / patterns they base that on? It’s a real question. I’m curious.

 

[mjda]

I’m curious, on what things / patterns they base that on? It’s a real question. I’m curious.

For me, if you look at posts by Opus and Tracy, you'll find matching tendencies. That doesn't necessarily mean they're the same person. It very well could be because they have known one another a while, hang out a lot online together, reading each other's messages, and have just gradually gotten more and more alike in their writing style.

That's just me speculating, though. I really have no idea what makes anyone else think that. I can only only assume they're seeing what I see.

I'd just already thought that Opus and Tracy were probably the same person so when an admin in this site mentioned it, I figured my assumptions were correct, just because they're privy to more data than we are. As for "Neo", I really haven't seen/heard/read much out of him so I haven't a clue about that one.

 

[Slavik]

such as real legal action from an angry customer

 

[Forsaken]

For me, if you look at posts by Opus and Tracy, you'll find matching tendencies. That doesn't necessarily mean they're the same person. It very well could be because they have known one another a while, hang out a lot online together, reading each other's messages, and have just gradually gotten more and more alike in their writing style.

That's just me speculating, though. I really have no idea what makes anyone else think that. I can only only assume they're seeing what I see.

I'd just already thought that Opus and Tracy were probably the same person so when an admin in this site mentioned it, I figured my assumptions were correct, just because they're privy to more data than we are. As for "Neo", I really haven't seen/heard/read much out of him so I haven't a clue about that one.

There are actually too many different habits to say that they're the same (it's hard to change your flow of consciousness that much), but definitely a flying monkey.

 

[mjda]

There are actually too many different habits to say that they're the same (it's hard to change your flow of consciousness that much), but definitely a flying monkey.

I didn't say they were the same. I said they have matching tendencies. It's pretty easy to post "differently". It's just not easy to post completely differently, hence the common tendencies.