From Skeptic Overlord ATS

[Michigan Swamp Buck]

Yeah, I kind of read Septic Overload's  good-byes, not really though, just a little.

That thread welcoming the new owner to introduce themselves, I asked the OP what color his nose was under his mask. That thread seemed like a brown nosing type thread, like bowing down to the new masters, like being in grade school and sucking up to the new teacher.

I saw your reply in that thread, and had a good laugh.  

BUT, if that brown-nosing worked and elicited a response from the new owner, more power to him.  Could POSSIBLY have been the motivation behind the brown-nosing.  I hope...

Yeah, it was all in jest, but the moderator dropped the hammer on me not too long after I posted it.

I posted, "I wonder what color your nose is under that mask? (his avatar wore a mask) It doesn't happen to be brown is it?"

Here is the message they gave me after deleting it.

A member of the forum staff, DontTreadOnMe, has sent you a warning regarding your activity on the thread titled,
Welcome new ATS owner. I look forward to your introduction!. Your have been warned 1 times.
Warnings are recorded, and each individual warning expires in three days (72 hours) from the time it was applied.
If forum staff continue to warn you and you gain 5 or more warnings, a temporary posting ban will be enforced automatically.

Individual warnings carry a points penalty of 500 points which have been deducted from your board total.
Do not reply to this U2U.

Looks like Don't Tread don't have no sense of humor. That was the worst slap they ever gave me there, and I've said worse, much worse, and got less than that. More reason to give up on ATS. Some members have been posting their good-byes, one got canned pretty quick too.

I use to get all kinds of bonus points for for most of my threads and even some posts, but my latest (and might add very worthy and well sourced) threads haven't gotten a peep, even with all the replies - very active threads. Makes me believe that there may be some kind of new rules in regard to what subject matter is awarded points and what subjects get deductions and deletions by the mods.

Now that I think of it, perhaps they are trying to "Shut the Mother F'er Down" (props to my late friend Danny K). Drive off the hard core dissenters and critical thinkers and take control of the mighty ATS, home of alternative thought and conspiracy theories.