Angbasdil is perfectly right.
I agree with that.
...But if a person was REALLY ignored, I think that would be more painful [than banning].
I disagree there. I was ignored all the time in Manwe, but I got over it. I could still participate, and choose to think that my words were so perfect, they were unrebuttable.
I still felt like I was part of the community. I could still call out in the night and feel that there was someone there listening - some other person who just lurked, as I usually just lurked. When I got banned, it hurt like hell. Suddenly I was cut off from hundreds of people I knew and cared about, a few of whom knew and cared about me as well.
And I agree with TM that asking before being publicly miffed might go a long ways towards making this a cozier place.
[/delurk]