Admins - Why Was My Account Banned?

[KingNumpty]

I apologise if this is in the wrong section - I really have no idea where else to post this on here.

Basically last week my account, called "serotonin", was banned for "Advertising/promotion/charity post". However, this was completely unjust and I have no idea how I've done this in any way whatsoever?

For some reason this ban came after I'd posted a topic in the Lounge asking something like "What's the most awkward place you've broken down/been stuck?", which was eventually moved to General Gassing. I was literally just asking this out of pure interest as well as telling an anecdote of my own, which is why I posted it in the Lounge as I thought it didn't really fit anywhere else/I'd get angry commenters if I'd posted it anywhere else.

Anyway, there was one commenter who asked if I'd made the post to advertise some sort of book or tv show about "funny car anecdotes"? Absolutely no idea where this came from or how you could infer this in a million years, so I replied obviously not.

• (As an aside - if I posted on here about my car having something wrong with it, which I have done a couple of times now, and someone asked "Are you doing this just to advertise your car because you're thinking of selling it?" would I be banned for "Advertising/promotion/charity post" simply because someone had asked that question, even though the answer was undoubtedly and very obviously "No"? Do you ban everyone on the forum? Or just those in the lounge telling an anecdotal story and inviting other PHers to share their experiences within a light-hearted post? No, you don't. It's just me, which is why I'm so frustrated. There are posts in that section on the forum with topics LITERALLY as random as "tell me something trivial about your life". Was that thread started to promote the OP's book about trivial things about his life? No. It. Was. Not. So. Why. Would. Anyone. Suggest. That. In. A. million. Years?)*

Anyway, later that day my account was banned from posting anywhere on Piston Heads, and was also banned from accessing the email feature on people's profiles so I couldn't even email any of the admins asking why I was banned completely out of the blue and for, in my opinion, no reason whatsoever. This wasn't just a ban from one particular forum on here, it was a ban from everywhere. I can still log in but I cannot use the website to interact with anyone./

I have emailed [e-mail] three or four times now, with no replies.

I joined this forum, as a young driver, to seek knowledge and advice on my own car, learn more about how cars work, and to have a laugh with some occasional off-topic posts. I really can't help but feel excluded, patronised and chastised by a community which condemns those younger drivers wishing to learn and laugh, despite being respectful and honest with absolutely everyone on here.

Anyway, don't expect to many replies from me because I will probably be banned yet again simply for raising the issue.

Rant over.

• Also, admins, if you're reading this in a hostile tone in your head (which you absolutely should be), please don't feel as though I'm going to scream and shout or use profanity in any replies to this. Am I frustrated? Yes. But I am no troll and will be very grateful and respectful of anyone who can get back to me on this.

[Big Al.]

It appears that after a spate of similar banned members asking similar questions, you were here purely to gather information from our members to use elsewhere.

Your profile was therefore disabled.

Should you wish to take this up with PH admin then I would suggest you email Jack Mansfield directly on [e-mail]