Some people mentioned how the ban system is flawed, and people don't fear the rules anymore.
Well, I gathered up some data from the ban appeals section. Note that this is only data about ban appeal topics in the ban appeals thread on this forum. It doesn't accurately reflect all the people who have been banned, what they were banned for, how long they were banned for, and doesn't take into consideration multiple appeals submitted for the same issue or posts that are completely offtopic. It also includes things like mute appeals.
Topics in the Ban Appeals section posted in...
January 2011: 11
February : 18
March: 32
April: 17
May: 15
June: 49
July: 31
August: 61
September: 30
October: 45
November: 20
December: 18
January 2012: 57
February: 43
March: 42
April: 66
May: 57
June (so far): 12
There have been 172 more topics posted in the Ban Appeals section from January-May 2012 than January-May 2011.
Interpret those results as you will.
Again, keep in mind that this does not take into account double posts, re-appeals for the same ban, offtopic things, ban reminders, mute appeals, rating appeals, and other things. It is merely data based on the topics placed in the Ban Appeals section. It also does not take into account the severity of the infringement and severity of the ban.
Perhaps I'll clean it up later, but that's hard