Neither of you are "screwed" for asking a reasonable question.
The fact is though, when someone is banned, they are given a reason. The length of the ban can vary, and it has a lot to do with how the PRIVATE discussion between the member and staff goes behind the scenes. On occasion, the ban is never ending.
If someone is telling you that they "got banned from RC for no reason what so ever", they are simply not telling you the entire story.
Any member, banned or not, can reach the Mod that banned them, or any staff member here at the staff members' username (mine is DgenR8) @ReefCentral.com to open a rational discussion about reinstatement.