Don't know either well, but if patteau wants him back, I'm inclined to think Hootie should be allowed back. (as patteau seems like a pretty good poster here)
I am shocked that anyone could even get banned here... seeing as every 30 seconds, people get away with remarkable foulness. Call someone an asshole on most forums and the banhammer comes down. Here, people can talk about fisting your mother as she hangs by the neck from a burning aids tree... and it's perfectly acceptable.
