# Difference between silencing and banning

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/difference-between-silencing-and-banning/292731>\
**Category:** Product Support\
**Tags:** moderation\
**Created:** [January 24, 2024, 7:25am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difference-between-silencing-and-banning/292731 "2024-01-24T07:25:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 8

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**Author:** ![JammyDodger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jammydodger/32/254611_2.png) [@JammyDodger](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JammyDodger)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2024, 7:55am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difference-between-silencing-and-banning/292731/8 "2024-01-24T07:55:05Z")

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Both are included in the criteria for TL3, so if you had been silenced or suspended within the last 6 months you would not meet the necessary checks to be a TL3. However, the Penalty count can be manually reset by an admin, which may be appropriate if people decide to be voluntarily silenced so they can take a forum break.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difference-between-silencing-and-banning/292731)._