In case anyone was still confused as to why Dan got suspended:
Dan: And remember... when you take the test? Peel the banana first. THEN eat it. Common rookie mistake.
The Dan suspension specifically:
Mod: You've not explicitly broken any rules Dan, but my best judgement is that you just disrespected a member of this forum, namely myself. Right now since you have stated you are not going to continue with the discussion I am going to make a judgement call and not suspend you for 24 hours. If your tone continues on this forum, my best guess is that my judgement call will be to suspend you to cool down.
Dan: Your judgement is balls-on accurate.
Mod: You're suspended for breaking rules 1,2 and 10.
1: Follow all moderator requests (calm down the tone or I'll suspend you)
2: Please stay on topic for a thread (the discussion of moderation procedures).
10: Always treat other members with respect. Argue the position, not the person. Avoid abusive, harassing and invasive behavior. Avoid needling, hectoring and goading tactics.
It had absolutely nothing to do with Dan criticizing the moderators and everything to do with the manner of his criticism. This thread is not about calling the moderators names or disrespecting them. It is entirely possible to criticise actions or procedures without getting personal, being disrespectful or such. Doing so will likely get you suspended: and playing a martyr card about how the evil moderators are suppression constructive criticsm will be viewed with equal amusement whether it comes from creationist or evolutionist, theist or atheist.
People complain that moderation isn't fair. Maybe it isn't, but it isn't about being fair, it is about allowing debate to continue and if we suspend those that hold controversial or even offensive counter-opinions I would have suspended the entire 'other' side of the debate by now and there'd be no discussion - obviously counter to the goal of allowing debate to continue.
A reasonable criticism of recent moderator action was put forward by Percy, and I think it takes into account the spirit of the anger some members have expressed while also allowing the moderators to help keep flamewars exploding all over the moderation threads. On the back of this criticism: it will be my practice in the future, where reasonable, to suspend people's privelages for varying lengths from the 'Suggestions and Questions' forum only - if they are no longer contributing anything to the discussion of moderation procedures but instead are using it to lash out or repetitively bitch and whine about it all. EvC wide suspensions will be limited to severe cases or cases where the lashing out spills out into other threads where they are offtopic and/or disruptive. Case by case basis and all that.
I have no desire to continue justifying the Dan Carrol suspension - different people have different views on it and that's fine. Any comments on the idea of forum limited suspensions as a moderation procedure will be interesting to read though.