Randomly Banned User?

AddieCake · August 2013

Can someone tell me why MrUniverse was banned? I read the post history, and I don't see anything bannable in it, andplusalso I thought bans going forward would be following the 5 strikes/warnings rule.

Thanks!

@KnotPorscha @KnotJackie

KnotJackie · August 2013

I believe it was connected to another account and seen as an AE-- happened awhile ago. I will double check though- is the user asking? They can email us if they want to.

AddieCake · August 2013

It happened awhile ago? MrUniverse's last post was on Friday, which was 3 days ago.

Maggie0829 · August 2013

@AddieL73 I also saw that Ella and Pedro was banned as well and that member was last active on August 9th. I don't know much about E&P as a poster but from the replies I read on the wall there didn't seem to be anything AE or bannable about her.

AddieCake · August 2013

I remember EllaAndPedro not always having the best advice, but I never saw anything bannable from her, either.

KnotJackie · August 2013

Sorry-- mixed it up (it was late!). Yes, that user was automatically banned because it was connected to another account that was removed (IP was banned). Our system now detects multiples and removes as we try to cut down spam and AE's (before we bring back mods).

As for E&P-- they were removed before the boards even switched over, but some accounts slipped through with the change and they can log in, which is why you may see them as "active". Their last post was in May. We are (slowly) sifting through all accounts like that.

AddieCake · August 2013

I'm so curious about these IP bans b/c I know people who have been banned and then their AEs also banned. I also know people who have been banned but their AEs have NOT been banned. So what determines what gets someone an IP ban/all their AEs banned vs. just a simple ban that they can come back with a new name with?

KnotJackie · August 2013

@AddieL73 Totally understand the confusion, it is a little blurry. It's new, so once it recognizes and IP from a user who was banned, it bans that account as well. Still working it out.

If we see an obvious AE on the boards, as stated in the rules, it'll be removed.

KeptInStitches · August 2013

@Schatzi13's concern hasn't been addressed. If a regular user creates an AE to ask a very personal question, is that a bannable offense?

AddieCake · August 2013

Stitches, I doubt it. They have said before that AEs for purposes of trolling are what would be banned, but with so much confusion lately, who knows?

Jackie, I'm still a little confused. So the system sometimes recognizes IPs and sometimes doesn't? Because like I said, there are AEs that have NOT been banned when the original account associated with it WAS banned. And what constitutes the decision to make an IP ban vs a screen name only ban? For example, on April Fool's my AE was banned for trolling. On Kitten Day, my AE was not banned. My regular self was not banned in conjunction with either of those, either.

So what I'm asking is this: If AddieL73 calls someone a slut, and she gets banned for personal attack, can she come back as PoorLittleAddie, or will PoorLittleAddie be banned as well? And if PoorLittleAddie is NOT banned, why not? What do people have to do to get IP banned vs just screen name banned?

KnotJackie · August 2013

This is new-- so it wasn't around on "kitten day" etc. If a second account is created, for any reason, on an IP that has been banned, it will be banned as well (I don't even think it will be allowed to be created after an IP ban has been done, but I will check).

For the example you gave: You would be warned, so not banned. But if you had already been warned 5 times, then yes, that would be a ban. On this system, again, new, if your account is banned, the IP is banned along with it - so your other accounts on the IP would also be banned.

So, that account you originally questioned- they had multiple accounts (recently joined) and could not use them since this system was in place.

Does that help?

misshart00 · August 2013

So anyone banned from here forward will have an IP ban?

KnotJackie · August 2013

Yes, in community, not the website.

AddieCake · August 2013

Yes,that helps. Thank you!

vegasgroom · August 2013

Just an FYI for KG's on this banning issue from a technical standpoint. It is probably not a very good idea to ban accounts automatically just because an IP address has been flagged as having been used by a banned account. The technical reasons behind it will probably be more than you wanted to know, but I'll write it out anyway in case it needs to be forwarded on to the "IT guys".

We are at the point where there are currently no additional IP addresses (version 4) to be given out to internet providers. There is a second protocol that alleviates this issue (IPv6 or IP version 6), but the knot website does not support IPv6 at this point it appears. So... why is this important? Because a huge number of devices on the internet are not IPv6 compatible yet the number of devices people want to connect to the internet continues to increase at dramatic pace.

With that being said, internet providers are having to scramble for bandaid solutions in markets where their networks are saturated and they have run out of addresses, and this often involves technologies where multiple people will appear to come from the same IP address. Kind of like how a home router works where you have one 'external' address and your computers, tablets, phones, etc. all appear to come from that one IP when you're on your home wifi or wired networks.

In large cities where this address runout has gotten bad, it's certainly possible and likely that more than one person who happens to frequent the knot forums may appear to come from the same IP address at some point, unbeknownst to them. So if legit users are going to be banned because someone else on the same IP did something naughty, it's going to lead to legit users being banned for no reason.

You may also want to ask the tech staff why the knot website is not IPv6-enabled yet; the protocol has been around for more than a decade and the issue of impending address runout has been known about amongst webmasters and server admins for years now.

[Deleted User] · August 2013

@Snippet17 Yes, the system should pick up any active IPs that are associated with a member's account.

Randomly Banned User?

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