What are the purpose of warning points? What happens at certain levels? Are my warning points visible to other posters or just my own?

Only you can see the number of warnings you have.  The site owners and moderators can view the numbers everyone has but no other posters can see or know about your warnings, unless you publicly admit to it.  Warning points expire after 120 days.  The system is automated that when you reach a certain number of points, your posting privileges are temporarily ceased.

 

3 active points gets a 24 hour content suspension. You can send PMs.

5 active points gets a 72 hour content suspension. You can send PMs.

7 active points gets a week ban. You cannot send PMs.

9 active points gets a month ban. You cannot send PMs.

25 active points is an automatic permanent ban.

 

An active point is one that has not expired.  Content suspension means you cannot post.  So, to reach those levels of time out, you'd have to receive that many points all within 120 days of one another.  If you are on a course to receive one every 4 or 5 months?  It's not a worry.

 

This is why Brock had asked earlier when we went to this new system if anyone wanted their previous warnings removed as the new system was counting them all as active.

 

The four warnings one could receive are for personal attacks, inappropriate language, spam and trolling/flamebaiting/threadjacking.  They are based on the site rules.  (Go to the bottom of the page and click on 'Privacy Policy and Site Rules.'  Or click here.)