Okay but in the OP here you have the opinion that FlyingSquid is someone who needs protecting.

I think everyone is someone who needs protecting. My point is that things are happening to FlyingSquid that are not happening to the average person, which means I react differently when another instance of that same thing happens. It’s not based on any particular special class I put FlyingSquid in, because pretty much the only thing I know about him is the pattern of people criticizing him for things that seem to me to be made up, and me looking into it and seeing at most like 20% justification for it and often 0%. Like in this case.

It sounds like you’re saying that I’m an asshole, and being biased, if I do that. All I can really say is we’re going to need to agree to disagree.

The users saying the issue is if there is a clear pattern aren’t arguing in support of whether there is a clear pattern of the world conspiring against one user. They’re saying moderation action is supposed to come down on someone, someone, with a clear pattern of misbehavior. Permabans for rules or harrassment require more than one incident of being a nuisance. Otherwise, they call for a clear but stern warning.

I addressed this exact point pretty clearly in the comment you’re replying to. It’s a pretty critical part of my response, because like I said, what you’re saying is a pretty fair point.

And if this combative attitude is what you took to that user in DMs, then I can see why they escalated to a point where you had to ban them.

I’m not super friendly all the time online. I’m actually trying to work on it. But honestly I don’t feel like I need to be super-friendly to someone who’s using my hosting to spew bullshit into the network. I was civil about it, maybe a little bit curt, a lot like what you see in these comments yes. If they decide it needs to escalate because of that because I didn’t put any heart emojis, then IDK what to tell them other than “bold strategy Cotton” et cetera.