Permanent bans - Handling cheaters and people with disruptive behaviour

Yesterday, as soon as I logged into the ACR Unlimited server, I saw a cheater, who was allegedly using an aimbot, get perma-banned by an ACR admin. This got me thinking about some of the implications of permanent banning:

• The IP ban may block other users sharing the same ISP/internet connection -- this is even worse if the user got perma-banned while using his university's internet connection, as everyone in that university would be banned too.
  
• The user might actually repent and stop cheating or having a disruptive behaviour. (Even though some say people never change.)
  
• The administrator of the ban might be wrong - we're human, we all make mistakes.

Therefore, I believe we should eliminate permanent bans and replace them with 2-week or one-month bans. Two weeks are probably more-than-enough to teach the user a good lesson and make him forget any rancor he might have against the administrator who banned him, or the server itself. Of course, if the user maintains his old behaviour, longer bans might be appropriate.

Now, before laughing or posting a derisive comment, think for a minute and put yourself in someone else's shoes. You wouldn't like to get accidentally perma-banned, would you?

I'm asking you now: what do you think?

(Sorry if my minor edits pushed the thread back to top)

__________________________
{ACR}^linux26

Your Right linux!
Isnt Fair For My Brother if i get A perma ban on a server he likes to play in...
But if We think hes still hacking after 3 times of 2/4 weeks ban then he might can get a perma...

People never learn, Linux.

If they get banned in one server, they will just go to another one.
It's that simple.
They won't beg for getting unbanned. They won't regret for what they've done.

And you, my friend, should stop caring 'bout 'em.

Lito

what about people like huck who i am trying to ban....

All right, do it.

I know I've told you not to, but I'm really sick of they all now.

are u sick of me???ziGiZ your best friend!

this is when ban by client is useful. for example, you probably know my annoying brother RyanZ? everyone wants to perm ban him but then i cant play on the server. now w/ client ban i dont find a problem (except when he threatens me to unban him or else he will turn off the internet).