I don't understand why there's so much criticism. If the administration is offering a second chance to anyone, what's wrong with that? Regardless of the ban reason, I believe giving a second chance won't harm the forum. Additionally, remember that the same admins can reapply a ban with just another click of a button.
Moreover, Cyrus has explicitly mentioned that this is not a blanket amnesty scheme.
It's that time of the year again... and it's at least as good a time as any to reflect on both the good, and the bad; to think about how we can do better in the future; and also to... forgive. Regarding that last one, we've decided that for a limited time, we will be considering unbanning users previously banned for plagiarism.
This is not a blanket amnesty. We take plagiarism very seriously. Not just any banned account will be unbanned, not all sanctions will be lifted, and we'll be watching the unbanned users like hawks.
Anyway I really appreciate and express my gratitude for giving users a second chance. It’s heartening to see the forum administration embracing the spirit of forgiveness and providing an opportunity for redemption.
To those who may criticize this decision, I’d like to pose a question: What harm is there? If users are willing to abide by the rules and requirements and contribute constructively, it could be a positive step toward fostering a more inclusive and understanding community.
Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a Happy 2024!
Good luck to the applicants.