i have no objection to a suspension, but it might cost agoracom some time and effort to implement such a change, and i don't think it is really necessary. for one thing, although it is not publicized by agoracom, a ban is not necessarily forever. in one forum we had an individual who brought a great deal of insight, but was abrasive (and that is putting it mildly.) after he finally caused more trouble than even he was worth, he was banned. some months later, he agreed to more or less behave himself, the forum leaders asked to reinstate him, and it was done.

but that was the rare exception. in the overwhelming number of cases, the people i have had to dismiss have deserved to be terminated with extreme prejudice, and post-haste. almost all of the offenders have come from yahoo or stockhouse, and think they have the right to do and say whatever they want. when i first started as a hub leader, i used to take the time to explain to these people what they could and could not do. i posted explanations in the forum for all to see. i told them that if i had to ban them, it would be from all of agoracom, and not just my hub.

it was all a complete waste of time. they were here to cause trouble, and they never posted anywhere else anyway. if you issue a 30-day suspension, all you accomplish is to delay the inevitable, because leopards do not change their spots. a month later they will be back, and they will be even angrier.

i do not think it should be necessary to have two hub leaders collaborate to ban a troublemaker. all that does is hamstring the leaders and frustrate them. then the leader may decide enough is enough, and quit. or you may end up with leaders protecting miscreants who agree with them, which causes even more trouble.

in some hubs there may only be one or two leaders, and only one may be available for some time. i often have to act as judge, jury, and executioner, but that just means i have to be right before i decide to ban someone. i have to be able to tell the difference between a disappointed shareholder who may be angry because his stock is down 80 or 90% and a worthless basher who thinks the hub is here for his entertainment.

i think the system works as is. as a leader you can explain to people what the rules are, and you can warn them by deleting offensive messages, but in the end they have to behave themselves while they are in the mail room.