I'm going to ask the obvious before anybody else does. Is there any possibility that we could see a screenshot of the ban message?

I mean if it's just a rant that's fine but if you expect a discussion we kind of need some context

Your posting history is public.

If the moderators are telling you that you need to take a break, maybe you need to take a break.

Oh man I'm going to flag your post for "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

That is how it works, ANY post can be considered a violation of that rule.

But no, that would put it square in line for this thread to be locked. You can't have threads even using a specific ban as an example with out running afoul of the rule about disusing specific bans.

But say I post "this game is full of hackers". That post "contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community." Yet forums are full of such posts.

"Oh you just need to get good" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

"I don't think you know what you're talking about" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

Even "man I love this game, best ever" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

The rule is so ambiguous it can be used to cover any post in any forum.

"oh that game is woke" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

"I didn't like that character design"
"This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

Starting to understand? "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

Oh man I'm going to flag your post for "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

That is how it works, ANY post can be considered a violation of that rule.

But no, that would put it square in line for this thread to be locked. You can't have threads even using a specific ban as an example with out running afoul of the rule about disusing specific bans.

[...]

The rule is so ambiguous it can be used to cover any post in any forum.

You might want to take a quick look at what the dictionary defines "inflammatory" (or the synonym used in some laws, "seditious") as.

I know what you are hinting at but read the previous post that was a response to, how is that not the post that should have gotten the flag?

Then we are back to the flag issue. Any forum dependent on community flags for moderation becomes a popularity contest.
Flags stop being about violations and only get tossed when feels get hurt.
And then they only get tossed at the out of click people.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

how is that not the post that should have gotten the flag?

If you think someone else is violating the rules, report their post. Posts are generally only actioned on when they are reported. Outside of some game forums, moderators aren't reading every post looking for people breaking the rules.

If you think you were incorrectly moderated, then appeal it.

Your best bet is to stop posting on the forums. I came to this conclusion several years ago.

If an infinite number of monkeys typing on an infinite number of typewriters will eventually type the complete works of William Shakespeare, then you as an individual posting enough on the forums will eventually write something that will come afoul of someone with the ability to issue you a ban, whether that ban is justified or not.

Hell, you might even get a ban by mistake, as happened to me. I got banned once for something someone else posted. They violated the rules, I reported it, and I got banned for their post because a moderator clicked my account by mistake when they looked at my report.

So just don't bother. Somebody somewhere is going to take issue with something you wrote, and eventually that will line up with someone who has the ability to ban you for it.

If you don't have the leeway to possibly offend someone, then you don't have the ability to speak freely. The best thing you can do for yourself in that situation is to simply walk away. Your individual thoughts are not being valued or welcomed.

This post is going to be left up for a while, and then I'm going to delete it. If the thread doesn't get locked, that is. As I recall, you are unable to delete posts in locked threads.

I just need to get off that pubg forum, it's nothing but toxic.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

I just need to get off that pubg forum, it's nothing but toxic.

If you hate toxic stay away from any PVP game forums

Maybe they just don't want to discuss "cheats" because people would have to search for them first to discuss them. Maybe they just want to prevent that?

Steam Support can clarify this. You should probably contact them if you have any questions about what they mean. Nobody likes to see you confused about something. People are probably happy to help and elaborate in any way they can.

AustrAlien2010 の投稿を引用：

Perhaps they just don't want a discussion about cheats, because people would have to looking for them in order to be able to discuss them.

Steam Support can clarify. You're supposed to contact them if you don't understand what they mean with it.

Yeah that won't help much. If they decide you broke the rule there will just tell you to read the rules. I s*** you NOT, that's exactly what they did when I appealed my last BAN.

Because apparently calling Donald Trump a pig is insulting a fellow steam USER or some s***. I'll let you connect the dots of why this is RIDICULOUS.

But you know it's not my platform not my rules so i just want elsewhere until the BAN expired

Red:
You're gonna fit right in. Everyone in here is innocent. Heywood, what're you in here for?

Heywood:
Didn't do it. Lawyer f***ed me.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

I didn't do anything to violate the TOS, I just posted something that may cause someone else to.

So in other words, you're upset that you're not allowed to troll and post bait.

The rule as listed:

Interactions with other players should not be abusive, disparaging, or inflammatory, nor create an environment that is unwelcoming.

Examples of disrespectful content include:
Insults or harassment
Threats or encouragement of harm
Trolling or baiting arguments
Discrimination
Bypassing word or content filters
Public accusations towards others

It's well known that trolls operate in a gray area where they're technically not breaking the rules, yet posting things in an effort to cause as much upset and chaos as possible. Your intent with your posts is an important distinction.

Did you intend to try to rile people up enough to where they might get frustrated enough to break the rules? Then it's totally justified. This rule is designed to help make the Steam forums more civil so people can have actual discussions. It's an anti-trolling rule.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

How am I responsible for some one else breaking the rules?

When you intentionally bait people in an effort to try and get them to do so.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

The forum it's self is nothing but rage baiting trolls making accusation against other players and the developers.

"Everyone else does it!" is not really a good justification.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

Oh man I'm going to flag your post for "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

That is how it works, ANY post can be considered a violation of that rule.

Funny thing about you trying to explain how the forum works... is most of us already know how the forum works, apparently better than you, given our super human ability to not randomly be banned like you seem to be claiming.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

But no, that would put it square in line for this thread to be locked. You can't have threads even using a specific ban as an example with out running afoul of the rule about disusing specific bans.

But say I post "this game is full of hackers". That post "contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community." Yet forums are full of such posts.

"Oh you just need to get good" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

"I don't think you know what you're talking about" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

Even "man I love this game, best ever" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

The rule is so ambiguous it can be used to cover any post in any forum.

"oh that game is woke" "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

"I didn't like that character design"
"This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

Starting to understand? "This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."

We understand you struggle to be part of a community and you're the hero of your own story.

Deacon the destroyer の投稿を引用：

Yes this does, but does not concern a particular ban that I and going to appeal. This is about a bad rule that can be applied to every single post in any forum.

I didn't do anything to violate the TOS, I just posted something that may cause someone else to.

PARDON?

How am I responsible for some one else breaking the rules?
That is just ludicrous. Hell that isn't even me committing a thought crime. No violation has actually been committed but I'm getting a time out anyway, WTF?

"This post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community."
How does that not describe EVERY post on a forum?

Why am I being punished because some one else MAY violate the TOS?

NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY. I am not my brothers keeper.

The forum it's self is nothing but rage baiting trolls making accusation against other players and the developers. And nothing is done about that, tell them they are wrong and hey you might be instigating and argument BAN.
WTF?

Seriously go to the pubg forum try to find a post this doesn't describe "post contains content that is inflammatory and likely to create arguments. This type of content is not allowed on the Steam Community." By that definition the entire pubg forum needs to be shut down and I doubt very seriously it's the only one.

Oh well I just need to quit these forums, they've some how managed to get worse then reddit.

This just happened to me. Guy flames me and others for not liking his game, and making comments about how it feels iffy. I report him, steam does nothing. He flames me so I defend myself and attack back and Steam goes "well that's okay, you get banned instead."
What a joke it is. It's whatever because Magic the Gathering's forums are trash and a cesspool of people attacking you for not even liking their game but...it's nice if the laws and rules applied evenly.