This is an old revision of this page, as edited by A3RO (talk | contribs) at 13:34, 28 May 2008 (Reverted edits by Wolfman Jack 70 (talk) to last version by ClueBot). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 13:34, 28 May 2008 by A3RO (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by Wolfman Jack 70 (talk) to last version by ClueBot)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The term banhammer, sometimes called the ban stick, is a satirical term for the banning or blocking of users of Internet forums or online games. The term is often used as a nickname for the actual anti-cheating software that performs the banning action.
Overview
Punishment is usually a form of ban from the service, either by deleting the guilty party's account or suspending it for a period of time. In extreme cases, the person's IP address may be blocked from the server to prevent them from simply creating another account, sometimes indefinitely; however, this particular action is rarely taken, as most Internet Service Providers allocate dynamic IPs to their customers which can change from time to time. These actions are usually invoked for such offenses as violating the website's Terms of Service, trolling, promoting prejudice, disrespect of moderators, or promoting illegal acts.
Gaming usage
Its concept has since expanded into more mainstream venues, such as Bungie's Halo 2 video game for the Xbox console. A patch released in July of 2005 -- required for future online play -- scanned the user's hard drive and summarily restricted them from joining Xbox Live if it was determined that their copy had been modded without possibility of appeal or leniency. News site Slashdot began using the term at that point and has subsequently applied it to multiple instances of similar housecleaning occurring on World of Warcraft.
In other games such as Blizzard's StarCraft, the host has a hammer icon next to their name and is able to boot people from the chat for being disruptive. The banhammer has even made an appearance in RPG The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, where it can be found on the corpse of an NPC.
Origin
The origin of the term appears to be the comedy website Something Awful's forums. The term was in use as early as 2000. The corpse of the NPC in Morrowind that possesses it is also named R-Lo, a shortening of Richard 'Lowtax' Kyanka, similar to J-Lo being a shortening of Jennifer Lopez. The associations with Bungie and Bethesda may also stem from the rumors that developers with both companies hold accounts on the forums.
See also
References
- ^ "Searching For: banhammer", Slashdot.
- Lasky, Michael (May 23, 2005). "AT&T's CallVantage: Excellent Phone Service on the Cheap". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - "HALO 2 & CHEATING: How does the Bungie "Banhammer" actually work?", Bungie.net, 2005-06-10, URL retrieved 2006-12-29.
- "Halo 2 Online Cheaters Get Smashed by Bungie's Banhammer" GamePro, 2005-07-21, URL retrieved 2006-12-29.
- Velvin, Sinder, "Morrowind Easter Eggs", The Imperial Library fansite, URL retrieved 2006-12-29.