[This][1] sort of thing has happened a few times now...

> "Hey, did you see? User X was boxed!"  
"User X? Why?"  
"I donno... Maybe he... " *(wild speculation ensues. waffles are blamed.)*  

It's generally quite easy to notice when a user gets thrown in [The Penalty Box][2]. You see the tell-tale **1** when viewing questions they've asked or answers they've provided. You visit their profile page. You see that big red message. And you're curious...

> The [Streisand effect][3] is an Internet phenomenon where an attempt to censor or remove a piece of information backfires, causing the information to be widely publicized.

This isn't good. It turns what *should* be a subtle "cool-down" period into a [big public spectacle][4]. And for what? 

Worse yet, speculation leads to unease. Was the suspension *really* justified? Where's the evidence? [**What's the definition of "jerk"?**][5]

Enough with the poisonous secrecy! I propose that moderators be instructed to attach a public comment to the account of anyone put in The Box. It need not be a *detailed account* of the user's transgressions, merely **a terse summary** of what finally caused them to be suspended - just enough to let us know that there is *some* valid reason behind it.


  [1]: http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/23347/what-happened-to-the-superuser-user-john-t-closed
  [2]: http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2009/04/a-day-in-the-penalty-box/
  [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
  [4]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stocks
  [5]: http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/23366/suspension-reasons