Banned awhile back... invalid reason and kinda confused.

[Construkt]

So I was banned awhile back for "gaming the vote system" which was actually a shock to me when I logged on my email one day and saw that my answers to virtually all of the threads that I was active in were voted best answer... which was odd because some of them were questions or comments, not answers. Then I noticed a couple of other people who had been mass upvoted too, and I thought maybe there was some time limiter thing that selected the last answer if nothing had been chosen or posted to end dead threads.

I shrugged it off, though it was nothing.

I was posting some affiliate links as well (which I realize now isn't allowed), and I was messaged from a moderator I assume to please cease doing so, and to report anyone else who did. I agreed and started reporting the others who were posting.

This apparently was a mistake. As soon as I reported the other posts, I was suspended and told that my own advertising had been noticed as well (keep in mind I had ceased posting said links), and that I was going to be banned for gaming the vote system... which again, I have no idea how or why you would need to do that.

I thought I was doing my best to comply to the rules of the forums, and got banned for it after the fact. Then I came back to read again, and noticed I could still post. I still can to this day, but I can't send private messages.

So do I deserve to be banned or can I get my PM permissions back? I was messaged a couple times after this whole thing went down and I just can't respond. I find this really odd.

 

[Titillating]

Looked into it, looks like there is a bit of confusion. The ban was not warranted, as it should have been deemed a mistake upon further investigation. I can go into further detail on the matter if you'd like, but for the moment, I've lifted the ban. You should be able to use the forums freely again.

 

[Construkt]

No need to look further, and thank you. I am redeemed!

 

[Titillating]

You're most welcome. If anything like this should come up again, feel free to PM me, or (if you can't do that) send an email to community@tomshardware.com and somebody—probably me—will look into it. Now, venture forth and enjoy the forums once again!