There's not really a way to know either way. If they keep logging in you assume they are alive I guess. If there was bad behavior before a cross out likely a ban.
You know, a bit off the point but when I first joined and read all the rules, I was terrified! (I'm terribly rebellious + outspoken).
& look now, I've lasted a week with no warnings, no bans, no arguments, maybe I'm gaining some maturity from being on here.
They can have a line thru the name and still view the forum. For example the OP of this thread was "Last seen" earlier today despite being banned from posting.
The OP kept posting the exact same threads over and over and it became increasingly likely they are a troll trying to discourage users.
Oh so you're just banned from posting but can still log on and see what's going on.
I haven't come across much of this trolling yet, and I'm not a particularly tech-y person so forgive my dumb naivety.
But how does posting the same thing over again discourage users?
Or is it just generally annoying and needless - I feel that!