I was trying to be fair, but I believe in this case a "good reason" goes beyond individual rules kept or broken. In certain cases, an individual might stay on the good side of every rule, while annoying members, flirting with heterodoxy, and in general being a bane to the forum, while remaining within the bounds of all the forum rules.
I can't deny that many people have called for Poche's banning over the years.
I've always tried to be objective, listening to complaints and reports of actual rule violations, trying to be fair to all sides. I also considered Poche to be harmless, although I admit I don't participate in *every* thread and conversation on the forum (at this point, that would be near-impossible on a forum as active as CathInfo.)
Therefore I've been stubborn *on principle* about this up till now. The forum has rules, and I'm always willing to enforce them. But sometimes you need someone that sees and understands the big picture, not just a piece of software that runs a script "Yes/No" against a set of rules, and renders a cold, lifeless verdict which can often be far off the mark.
But I can't do it, guys. I can't be Fr. Pfeiffer living in his own fantasy world, stubbornly hanging on to a rogue like Pablo. I can't do it now, nor will I ever. I can't exist in such a mental fantasy land, divorced from reality. When reality rears its head, despite what path I've taken up till now, I have to be willing to change my course (if not my mind).
Ladislaus makes a good case. I read it, considered it, and when taken as a whole, I now see Poche in a different light. I have to take Ladislaus' word for it with regards to some of the points he brought up (which I haven't seen or experienced personally) but I have no reason to doubt Lad's veracity.
Once I saw where this was going (i.e., that it's time for a new course on poche), I jumped right to this course of action, because you know what? I don't have time for games. I'm a busy man. I need to have this poche thing behind me. So I'm skipping a lot of back-and-forth, drama, discussion, etc. and just jumping right to the end.
And I'm a practical man. It IS a bit crazy, even if I'm standing on principles, to watch many good Traditional Catholic members go out the exit door, leaving me here with Poche. I don't even like him personally. I don't have Conciliar Novus Ordo even in my past or my family. So there's no soft spot there. It was only my principles which kept him here. I thought he was a good example of what we are fighting against. But I only kept him here because I thought he was harmless, convincing no one. I'm still not entirely sure that he's really a CIA or Illuminati plant to subvert and destroy Tradition. But he is just *too* unpopular and disruptive, even for a token member. I can't have him damage the forum -- by his presence, and by chasing the best members away.
That having been said, I have to address the elephant in the room.
Cathinfo members, this is your ONE freebie. I'll ban Poche for you. But don't be gettin' any idears! I'm still against lynchings of CathInfo members, especially those going back years. Don't even THINK to yourself "who's the 2nd worst member here, after poche..."
You'll find me as stubborn and unyielding as ever. I'm banning Poche. But your next request(s) will likely fall on deaf ears. I'm warning you now.
So Ladislaus, don't be getting a big head, and the rest of you, don't be gettin' any idears.
And all of you, have a great day.
P.S.
It was brought to my attention that Poche was "in the right" in the RBG kerfuffle. All he reportedly said was, "May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace." That is completely Catholic. Such a Catholic formula does NOT imply that RBG is part of the Faithful Departed. That is a 100% Catholic sentiment, a standard Catholic prayer, as well as the Catholic position in the matter. All those cheering at the thought of RBG roasting in hell were in the wrong. Catholics don't have inverse canonizations, or declarations of who is in hell. All departed souls can and should be prayed for.