The ban list.

[ConcernedCitizen]

The real question about the bans is if the reset should be complete or partial. That is, should we allow everyone to start with a clean slate or should we make an exception for the big names (jyan, terion, pav, Ian, Giratina, Nlewis, Pwol, Sparky, Ryan, etc). keeping them banned

I think it can be said without any argument Pavja and Jyan each did a considerable amount more harm than Ian, Lewis, Pwol, and Giratina ever did combined.

Hypothetically, (with Pavja and largely memorable griefs as exceptions) the more prominently known names are due to the large amount of controversy that surrounded cases - making the crime much less definitive (probably a bad word for it) or simply subjective. Whereas the less known permanbanned are blatant hackers, griefers, and x-rayers who were indisputably banned. If anything, the controversial cases are the ones who deserve (at least more than the other cases) compassion the most.

To be fair I don't think Pavja ever really made a final ban appeal but just rage-quit after he was rebanned for the 4th or 5th time - it's possible his last ban was more controversial than the one-sided view of the moderators made it appear. However one specific player certainly shouldn't impact the way we approach the ban list as a whole. I think that (with the exception of Terion who was loud) the real thing about all the 'big names' is that they were people who may have hurt the server in some significant way but also contributed a great deal to the player experience by being active and engaged with the community. I agree that the people who were banned within the week are probably less likely to help revive the server than the people who contributed to the community for several months before leaving of their own accord (Blackout, Kubrick, arguably Pavja) or having appeals denied (the rest of the list).