Bans are based on what someone put to the right of their name. Remember, no one can MAKE you write or create a post that you know to be rule-breaking. Most bans occur from the ninja queue where the name of the reported/accused isn't even shown (so there is no risk of bias or personal vendetta) the only thing in question is the content that they chose to put on this site. Bans are between the member and the ninja placing the ban and the interpretation of the site's rules. Any third party attempting to ascertain "what happened and why?" doesn't have all of the information and is (at best) making a guess as to the reasons/cause for the ban. No one is (as some are suggesting) either immune from discipline, or has a "higher standing" that is taken into account and used to "let this one person slide because they are popular, well known, or have certain friends". The post/content/comment is evaluated against the CoC and other membership agreements, and that is what gets anyone banned.