diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9305a2d..5193a55 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,21 +6,20 @@ a maubot plugin that attempts to assist administrators of communities on matrix,
 
 ## activity tracking and reporting
 
-tracks the last message timestamp of a user across any room that the bot is in, and
-generates a simple report. intended to be used to boot people from a matrix space and all space rooms after a period of
-inactivity (prune inactive users) with the `purge` subcommand.
+tracks the last message timestamp of a user across any room that the bot is in, and generates a simple report. intended
+to be used to boot people from a matrix space and all space rooms after a period of inactivity (prune inactive users)
+with the `purge` subcommand.
 
 supports simple threshold configuration and the option to also track "reaction" activity. 
 
-you can also exempt
-users from showing as "inactive" in the report by setting their ignore status with the `ignore` and `unignore` subcommands, e.g.
-`!activity ignore @takinabreak:fromthis.group`. this will be re-set when the user
-becomes active again, so this is useful for someone who is going on an extended hiatus! also this is an accident
-and will hopefully have a more permanent option in the future as well.
+you can also exempt users from showing as "inactive" in the report by setting their ignore status with the `ignore` and
+`unignore` subcommands, e.g. `!activity ignore @takinabreak:fromthis.group`. this will be re-set when the user becomes
+active again, so this is useful for someone who is going on an extended hiatus! also this is an accident and will
+hopefully have a more permanent option in the future as well.
 
-`sync` subcommand will actively sync your space member list with the database to track active members properly. new members
-to the space automatically trigger a sync, as do most other commands. this command is mostly deprecated but you may want
-to run it just to see what it does.
+`sync` subcommand will actively sync your space member list with the database to track active members properly. new
+members to the space automatically trigger a sync, as do most other commands. this command is mostly deprecated but you
+may want to run it just to see what it does.
 
 generate a report with the `report` subcommand (i.e. `!activity report`) to see your inactive users. 
 
@@ -29,7 +28,12 @@ generate a report with the `report` subcommand (i.e. `!activity report`) to see
 purge inactive users with the `purge` subcommand (i.e. `!activity purge`).
 
 kick an individual user from your space and all child rooms, regardless of activity status, with the `kick` subcommand
-(e.g. `!activity kick @malicious:user.here`)
+(e.g. `!activity kick @malicious:user.here`). this is useful in communities built on the concept of private (invite
+only) matrix spaces.
+
+if you want more sever action, use the `ban` and `unban` subcommands to ban users from all rooms in the space (this action
+will automatically kick them from those rooms as well). if you've made a mistake, use the unban option, but they will
+need to rejoin all rooms themselves or be re-invited.
 
 use the `guests` subcommand to see who is in a room but NOT a member of the parent space (invited guests) e.g.
 `!activity guests #myroom:alias.here`.
@@ -38,3 +42,8 @@ use the `guests` subcommand to see who is in a room but NOT a member of the pare
 
 install this like any other maubot plugin: zip the contents of this repo into a file and upload via the web interface,
 or use the `mbc` utility to package and upload to your maubot server. 
+
+be sure to give your bot permission to kick people from all rooms, otherwise user management features will not work! for
+more robust management, check out the [welcome](https://github.com/williamkray/maubot-welcome),
+[join](https://github.com/williamkray/maubot-join), and [createroom](https://github.com/williamkray/maubot-createroom)
+plugins as well.