Lets be realistic here. while this forum has a membership of 250 there are MAYBE 30 active members. out of those members maybe 2 have have had true bans which would have been reversible
if the banned member would have been polite and not held a grudge.
You mean kiss their *** and beg for the ban/suspension to be lifted, right?
Sure there are plenty of other of other forums to choose from but none of them have the membership base, knowledge base, level of available experts, and sheer level of traffic that RC does. these small local forums are great but there is no question asked here that would not receive a broader level of answers and experiences on the CMAS section of RC.
Why do you keep comparing this site to the larger sites. Nobody is claiming that they are the same, only you are presenting that argument as if you think that it is going to validate your position on the discussion. Its neither justifies nor validates RC over zealous moderating and irrational levels of enforcement.
As far as RC being the biggest/best/knowledgeable... I don't necessarily see that as a good thing. Typically in those environments, you get a bunch of blow hards trying to make everybody else on the interwebz believe that they are the most knowledgeable expert blah blah blah. I am a active member on aquariumadvice.com and compared to RC and what little reading I have done on there from search results is a much friendlier and welcoming environment to assist people in this hobby. Not stroke their own ego.
in fact it would be better for people new to reeling to at least get a taste of a larger forum since the response thry will received here is so narrow compared to the hundreds of thousands of members on a forum like reef central.
Apparently you have fallen victim to the stroking of their egos.
If there is one thing I have learned about this hobby, its that everybody has a different opinion. People who are insecure and don't really have much going for them outside of reefing need to try and validate to everybody else how their opinion on an issue is right.
Rather than offering opinions, common knowledge, and assistance, it turns into a big pissing contest.
Maybe you see that as good for the HOBBY, and for new members. I think that its harmful, damaging, and pathetic.