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I wrote a post criticizing this system in a constructive manner here on Meta. Now my Stack Overflow account is blocked. The rules say if my question is about Stack Overflow it is welcome here, so my question was in the right place.

I don't think it's fair that people who dare to criticize the system in a constructive manner, get their accounts blocked as retribution. Free speech means you should tolerate constructive criticism.

It's not like the issue I mentioned is new, there's numerous complaints about the same thing I wrote about.

I'd like to request that you be so kind as to reinstate my Stack Overflow account. Thank you

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    Somehow "dare to criticize the system in a constructive manner" and "I'm not going to conform to some ridiculous rules just to collect points" as well as "the tyranny of the masses you have going on here" don't seem to match. But as said, that will have had no influence on your SO ban.
    – Bart
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:32
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    Such sweet, delicious Schadenfreude!
    – user164207
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:34
  • @Jack Maney, that's funny, but do you really think I care about this site? I'll be the one who benefits because you guys will still be answering my question under new user names. You technically won't be able to ban me, I'll just use a proxy if I have to. I will be the one not spending any time contributing, which otherwise I would have done. So this is a win situation for me, not you guys. Think about that. Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:01
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    I've just lost hope in humanity just a touch more.
    – Mat
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:04
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    "Free speech means you should tolerate constructive criticism." If you refer to the first amendment... that does not apply to private companies. Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:06
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    @JavaMonkey22 Oh man, you've got us there. Dammit guys, we've just been outsmarted. We seriously need to rethink this system. Like, seriously guys.....guys?
    – Bart
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:07
  • @M. Night Demonbobby True, but it should apply to any respectable professional forum. Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:08
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    @JavaMonkey22 - You haven't been the first user to attempt to circumvent the ban, and you probably won't be the last. At least you're one of the few users who are stupid enough to admit your intentions, and thus practically guaranteeing that you'll be caught. And again: Stack Overflow is not a forum.
    – user164207
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:08
  • @Jack Maney seriously? Are you going to ban an entire country because of me ? Otherwise you have no chance. Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:09
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    @JavaMonkey22 - I have no ability to ban anyone from Stack Overflow.
    – user164207
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:10
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    @JackManey Something tells me that's a good thing. ;)
    – Bart
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:10
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    @M.NightDemonbobby: Please do not assume a US audience. Commented May 6, 2013 at 15:38
  • @LightnessRacesinOrbit: That's why I said "if you refer to". Commented May 6, 2013 at 16:48
  • @M.NightDemonbobby "the first amendment [of the USA's constitution]" ;) Commented May 6, 2013 at 17:07
  • @LightnessRacesinOrbit: Touché. But I fail to find any other "first amendment"...thanks, now I'm interested in this and have to search the web... Commented May 7, 2013 at 6:59

1 Answer 1

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For the record, no one specifically blocked your account; you were placed in an automatic question ban on the main site due to the community's voting on the quality of your questions. There is no link whatsoever to your posts on Meta.

You may have brought this on yourself with your last question, by calling attention to yourself and your questions. As a result, some people may have viewed the question(s) you linked, and voted as they felt appropriate. I'm not personally always comfortable with such piling on, but it is a real 'danger' you expose yourself to when calling attention to yourself by disagreeing with the opinion of the community on the quality of your questions.

But ultimately, the quality of your questions seem to be what has caused this; you seem to perhaps have just sped up the process by calling attention to yourself. I recommend taking this opportunity to try to improve your questions; thereby possibly getting answers, and being able to post new questions.

To reiterate: note that there is no link whatsoever between your posts/votes on Meta and a question ban on the main site. You can be banned on one and not on the other.


As for 'Free Speech', please note that, again, no one has blocked you due to your opinion. Your expression simply called attention to your posts. But also, Stack Overflow is not a 'Free Speech' forum, per se. It's run by a private company, who have every right to limit what is said or not here. In the case of Stack Exchange, the community mostly judges that (with certain limits of decency, and the like). But it's really not relevant to use the term 'Free Speech' here, at all. Even if your opinions were being suppressed.

Note, for example; you were able to post this question...

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    @JavaMonkey22 As I noted, you have not been blocked from expressing your opinion. And as for your plans; good luck. You haven't been getting good answers so far - what you plan to do won't help you, I guarantee. You'll just be wasting your time.
    – Andrew Barber Mod
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:15
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    @JavaMonkey22 feel free to follow the steps here. Don't create more accounts, it will just lead to IP ban. Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:20
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    @JavaMonkey22 If you absolutely are not willing to take the time and effort to ask good questions, well...
    – Andrew Barber Mod
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:24
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    @JavaMonkey22: "free speech as it relates to the IT profession should be respected" When means that your free speech goes exactly as far as the owners of that "public, professional forum" allow it to go. "Free speech" is about what the government can do, not privately-owned companies. Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:28
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    @JackManey I'm not sure that he didn't reach the question ban threshhold on his own, without the attention brought here. That's why I said 'may' ;)
    – Andrew Barber Mod
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:36
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    @JavaMonkey22 Please follow the link you get in the message informing you of the ban. No person has banned you and no person can unban you. This is an automatic system.
    – Bart
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:39
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    @JavaMonkey22 re: "at the same time"... you don't seem to have read my answer very well.
    – Andrew Barber Mod
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:43
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    @JavaMonkey22 - Again: the Stack Exchange network of sites are not a democracy. If you want to build your own set of Q&A sites that are run in a completely democratic fashion, then feel free to leave and do so (hint, hint).
    – user164207
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 8:52
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    @JavaMonkey22: how exactly needs a lesson in what? Democraty doesn't mean "I am entitled to to whatever I please anywhere I please in complete disrespect & disregard for my peers".
    – Mat
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:02
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    @JavaMonkey22 4 of your SO questions have been closed. 3 have negative scores, of which one significantly. There are additionally several zero-scored questions. That seems, from experience, a decent explanation for the ban to kick in. If that is all there is (i.e. no other deleted question, possibly negatively scored) you might be on the edge. Minor improvements (gaining reputation in the process) might see you get out of the ban. You can do your how "this is so unfair" routine for a while, or work to get the ban automatically lifted. It's up to you from this point onward.
    – Bart
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:02
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    @Bart And six, negatively-voted, deleted ones.
    – Andrew Barber Mod
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:03
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    @AndrewBarber Well,.....
    – Bart
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:04
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    @JavaMonkey22 Note that 'a good question' does not imply 'a good question for Stack Overflow'. Questions that are interesting but not correct for Stack Overflow will be downvoted anyway. Try reading the FAQ and reasons why questions can be closed/how to improve questions. Stack Overflow is not for every possible question or discussion you could possibly have, to prevent 'scope creep'.
    – Patashu
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:18
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    @JavaMonkey22 If you are seriously, constructively interested in knowing why your questions are regarded to be inappropriate for SO, by all means do ask. There are always Meta users willing to explain this to you. But don't rant and rave and tell us how much everything sucks. That is not going to lead to anything good. In the end you might find that you can adjust. Or perhaps even that this is not the site for you. Both are fair enough. But at this point in time you seem to be wasting energy on something entirely pointless.
    – Bart
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:21
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    @JavaMonkey22 - It seems that you are either incapable or unwilling to learn anything, so if you create another account and somehow aren't caught, then you'll find yourself banned from asking questions yet again.
    – user164207
    Commented May 6, 2013 at 9:27

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