FACT: mods can shadowban and throttle any user (with or without them logging on)

[ranierean]

a basic xenforo feature, fully documented

Discouraging aims to make using the site slow and painful for a problematic user, such that they eventually give up and leave. According to the system configuration, each time a user subject to discouragement attempts to load a page, there is a chance that it will fail to load, a change that it will result in a blank page, a change that it will take a very long time to complete etc.

Alternatively, specific IP ranges can be discouraged. This helps ensure that the behavior is maintained even when the targeted user is not logged in.

Discouragement | XenForo

At times, banning a person may not be entirely effective. With the design of browsers, it's easy for a problematic user to register a new account.

docs.xenforo.com

 

[eyes33]

wonder whose discouraged

 

[ranierean]

wonder whose discouraged

from my limited personal experience: non-indians