We have been looking for a solution to allow for private forums for a while. This solution has finally come along and we have implemented it. You may now notice that, unless you are the original poster or network staff, you cannot see the ban appeals in the ban appeal forum. This is to preserve the privacy of users and to prevent people who should not be posting on ban appeals from doing so.
This forum was always intended to be private however it has previously not been possible for us to do so.
The same setting has been applied to a few forums for Chris Pirillo's channel. If your channel has your own forum as part of the GeekShed forums you can request that the forum or certain subforums have this setting added.
Phil