Cant sign on from home

[Mick Fan]

I tried to get on from home this past weekend and got this message:

Error: You have been banned from this forum. Contact the system administrator if you have any questions.

I was able to get on at work, though. Is my IP address banned for some reason? Or is just a mistake?

[Cho Da]

Sounds like Traci banned some ISP's complete net block.
I had no trouble with roadrunner, er, mediaone, er, attbi, er, comcast, er wait that one hasn't happened yet.

[Moderator1]

On 2002-02-18 10:58, Mick Fan wrote:
I tried to get on from home this past weekend and got this message:

Error: You have been banned from this forum. Contact the system administrator if you have any questions.

I was able to get on at work, though. Is my IP address banned for some reason? Or is just a mistake?

Some ISPs have been blocked to prevent improper posts. Having your access blocked is an unintentional but unavoidable consequence of blocking the users Traci intends to block. Your continued participation at work is welcomed.

[Captain America]

On 2002-02-18 11:20, Moderator1 wrote:

On 2002-02-18 10:58, Mick Fan wrote:
I tried to get on from home this past weekend and got this message:

Error: You have been banned from this forum. Contact the system administrator if you have any questions.

I was able to get on at work, though. Is my IP address banned for some reason? Or is just a mistake?

Some ISPs have been blocked to prevent improper posts. Having your access blocked is an unintentional but unavoidable consequence of blocking the users Traci intends to block. Your continued participation at work is welcomed.


Forgive me for asking you to repeat yourself, but I am having a hard time making sense of your response. Could you explain that again, pretending that I am a moron (which, BTW, isn't really much of a stretch).

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

IP addresses are how the Internet finds computers. They're in the form 255.255.255.255.

When someone dials up, their ISP gives them a temporary IP address from a pool assigned to that ISP. Perhaps ReallyCheapConnections has the rights to 134.145.167.anything. (Most ISPs have larger blocks than that).

If AnnoyingPoster gets his dial from ReallyCheap, his first post might come from 134.145.167.1. When he calls in again, he might get 134.145.167.89. The next time, he might get 134.145.167.37, and something else the next time. The only sure way to get the pest is to ban 134.145.167.anything, which gets everyone else in his area who's a ReallyCheap customer.

It's a pain and not fair, but I don't know of a better way to cut down on the foolishness.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Obi-Wan Kenobi on 2002-02-18 11:56 ]</font>

[The Drunken Actuary]

I was following you until you said "The next time, he might get 145.145.167.37, and something else the next time."

Is that a typo?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: TDA on 2002-02-18 11:50 ]</font>

[Han Solo]

Unfortunately, I had the same problem as Mick Fan over the weekend. I use AOL, so some of the ISP's banned must have been ones usually assigned to people logging on AOL from my area.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Yes, it was a typo. I fixed it. Thanks for the catch.

I am guessing everyone on AOL just got blocked (I don't know if AOL has regional pools or if everything comes out of one national pool for them). As if having AOL weren't problem enough itself. :cool:

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Obi-Wan Kenobi on 2002-02-18 12:00 ]</font>

[Mick Fan]

So this means that I'll NEVER be able to sign on from home? How disappointing. :sad:

A lot of times I get too busy at work don't have a chance to look at the RF and I like to sign on from home at night.

[Captain America]

Does this mean if, say, Han Solo for example, typically uses a DSL provider to connect to the internet, then sign on to AOL, then log in to this forum (as opposed to using an AOL dial in number to connect), he could instead browse the internet w/ Explorer (bypassing AOL) to log in to this forum? Or have I completely misunderstood? Did that even make any sense? Should I shut up?

[Moderator3]

Like many, I use AOL to log on when I travel. One side effect of our little troll is that he has caused us to shut down access from AOL. We are working on a solution....stay tuned.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Captain, it makes sense (even if paying AOL's ridiculous “bring your own connection” fee doesn't). Give it a shot.

[Captain America]

{Hands on hips and chest thrust out}

There you go fellows! Captain America has saved the day once again!

[Han Solo]

Unfortunately, the Millenium Falcon is not equipped with DSL.

[Traci]

Bear with us folks.

Yes - several AoL ranges have been banned, as that was where the pests were coming in.

Things have become a little quieter - so they are either regrouping - or moving on.

Let's hope for the latter - and then I will be able to lift the bans soon.

You could try one of the IP hiding websites - can't hurt - might help.

[DW Simpson]

Deleted by DW Simpson Webmaster

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: D.W. Simpson Webmaster on 2002-02-18 20:01 ]</font>