Banhammer

About

Banhammer refers to the figurative banning tool used by web administrators and forum moderators to prohibit undesirable members from accessing the site, which is typically done by blocking individual IP addresses.

Origin

While the beginnings of banhammer may still be unclear, it was defined on Urban Dictionary as early as May 2003. The definition marks the term as used by moderators on the SomethingAwful forums.

Spread

December 2007 marked the launch of Banhammer.com, which at one point provided a link titled “Revenge,” which is now 404’d.

In the popular first-person shooter game Halo 3, there is a glitch that will enable a party host to pick up a gravity hammer that can kill several players at once from a distance.

In December 2009, the Banhammer.org forums were created, as a place where people could rage and troll without fear of banning.

Derivatives

The More You Know, the More You’ll MMO PSA (March 2010) 74,000+ views.