I have been a member of a few forums here and there...and I have seen people get banned for good reasons.

However, when an admin/mod permabans someone for giving criticism of a comic a thread topic is about or when an admin uses excessive punishment (aka banned longer than what the violation is worth), it makes me apprehensive about said admin/mod.

Usually, the other admins and the head admin would likely revoke said admin's/mod's powers...but what is one to do when said admin/mod is well liked or is feared because they're one of the higher ups in the admin/mod chain?

Some people would prefer to leave the site...others try to make a stand, despite the fact that the admin/mod could get away with it. I, on the other hand, resort to going into lurk mode and observe the forums for a while to see if it was just stress that got to the admin/mod...or if said admin/mod is corrupted. if the former is proven to be true, I might come out of lurk mode. however, if suspicion of corruption grows (latter becomes true), I would try to find a way to record the evidence and hopefully turn it into the proper admins who have not been corrupted.