We can request bans for the Soton board, but not implement them ourselves. And a request doesn't necessarily mean the powers above will act on it.
He's right and if they are having to contact the powers above every 5 secs about trolls and people getting out of hand on the off-topic board the people above our moderators will just shut it anyway.
Seriously......... yes you are absolutely right a small number will and do respond to a warning although it is reasonably obvious sometimes that a ban is the only option.