Looks very intriguing! Where, may I ask, is userForumBan.cgi that you refer to in the OPEN statement? And where are you inputting the banned user's data?
I can picture using something like Jimbo's hack for usernames...and you can store the data in something like that...but I don't see where you are doing that above.
I only ask because, though I wouldn't find it useful, I think it is fun to follow the code through...so I am curious!
GOOD JOB so far!!