Possible banning of "freemail" addresses.

Author: Jay
Date: 1-Nov-2005, 10:28 AM

Author: Jay
Time: 1-Nov-2005 10:28 AM
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We've been having issues lately with banned members returning under alternate usernames. The traditional methods of controlling these people--IP bans, e-mail address bans, and username bans--don't really work for persistent trolls, and spending hours locking accounts and cleaning up threads is frustrating for admins. As the site grows and we attract more bad elements, this will be a growing problem.

One thing that makes it particularly easy for spammers and trolls to keep coming back is their option to create unlimited e-mail addresses thanks to the abundant availability of "freemail" providers such as Hotmail, gmail, and Yahoo.

I'm considering making it a requirement that new users provide non-freemail addresses. New e-mail addresses are harder to get from ISPs and it's easy enough to ban entire domains if a user owns their own web site and can create unlimited aliases within their domain.

There are a fair amount of freemail addresses currently in use by our members, so implementing a "no freemail" policy would affect many of you. That's the primary reason I've held off on this idea until now. Also, I want to encourage new membership, and forcing people to provide "real" e-mail addresses can be problematic because people tend to be more protective of their primary e-mail address. They certainly have no need to fear spam from this site, but I can understand their concerns.

What do you think of this solution?

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Author: Yoda Is Your Father
Time: 1-Nov-2005 10:49 AM
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My Hotmail address is my primary e-mail. I have a work e-mail address, but I won't be in the same job forever (I hope...). However, I could get a home e-mail account if neccesary, so if this would discourage idiot trollers, then I say use whatever means neccesary. I do believe it might also discourage newbies though.

War does not make one great.

Author: ricarleite
Time: 1-Nov-2005 10:56 AM
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I would like to refrain using my professional e-mail for forum registrations and such (although I can use it if necessary), and I belive some people have the same issue. Also, for every troll there would be 50 other good posters who would be forbidden of access to the forum. Besides, having a proper domain name e-mail is not that difficult, and those who want to troll around will still be able to. I say it's not a good idea, Jay...

“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering

Author: Bossk
Time: 1-Nov-2005 12:11 PM
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Yeah, I would have to agree with Ric and YIYF, I do have another e-mail address, but it's my work account and I'd prefer to not use it. All my other e-mails are "freemail" -- Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail. Even my home account, through SBC, is routed to Yahoo because I linked my SBC account to my Yahoo one (pretty handy, really). And the address registered to my personal URL (kapgar.com) would do the same because it's linked to Yahoo since they're my webhost. I'd be a bit screwed and, I'm sure, many others would be as well.

"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
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kapgar.com

Author: PSYCHO_DAYV
Time: 1-Nov-2005 1:52 PM
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IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT JUST HITS SHY OF BEING PERFECT FOR THE ABOVE WRITTEN POSTS. ISN'T THIS THE REASON FOR THE "IGNORE" BUTTON ???

"I'VE GROWN TIRED OF ASKING, SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME..."
The Mangler Bros. Psycho Dayv Armchaireviews Notes on Suicide

Author: ReverendBeastly
Time: 1-Nov-2005 1:59 PM
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My Gmail address is my primary email address. It's even the email address on my business card. Yes, I have one for school, but that will expire in a couple years and I will no longer be able to use it. I understand it can get irritating re-banning so many times, but haven't there really only been three really bad trolls 'round these parts? And haven't two of those three been re-banned and will probably actually stay away now? Perhaps a better solution would be giving moderator privileges to a few more members. There's a lot of people around here who have shown their respect to the board through their multitude of good posts and who know the criteria that necessitates a ban.

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

Author: Jay
Time: 1-Nov-2005 2:16 PM
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Originally posted by: PSYCHO_DAYV
IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT JUST HITS SHY OF BEING PERFECT FOR THE ABOVE WRITTEN POSTS. ISN'T THIS THE REASON FOR THE "IGNORE" BUTTON ???

You're right. It is.

Nevermind.

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MTFBWY…A

Author: Warbler
Time: 1-Nov-2005 5:59 PM
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I agree that right now, for the already given reasons, this would be a bad idea. But if the problem of returning trolls increases, it may have to be considered again. I also believe that increasing the number of moderaters has merit.

Author: Nanner Split
Time: 1-Nov-2005 6:52 PM
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Yeah, I'm only 16, so my hotmail account is the only e-mail account I have. That new rule would be unfair to others in that same situation.

Author: skyman8081
Time: 1-Nov-2005 8:06 PM
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What if after a certain amount of time after OT 2.0 opens, the freemail addresses needed admin approval?

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

Author: Warbler
Time: 1-Nov-2005 11:21 PM
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that's an idea worth exploring. imho.

Author: Shimraa
Time: 2-Nov-2005 1:45 PM
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Originally posted by: skyman8081
What if after a certain amount of time after OT 2.0 opens, the freemail addresses needed admin approval?

thats alot of work for jay

Author: Shimraa
Time: 2-Nov-2005 1:47 PM
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hey jay what do you have to do exactly to ban someone, i would have thought that you might have build a functionin where you type in an email adresse and that account then get banned?

Author: ADigitalMan
Time: 2-Nov-2005 2:37 PM
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See, I'm just paranoid enough that I don't want just anybody to know my real email address. My biggest concern is retaliation for my re-edit efforts from the studios. Give them a road map to the real me and it's a recipe for disaster.

I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.

Author: Jay
Time: 2-Nov-2005 5:16 PM
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Unlike the current forum software, your e-mail address won't be public in the new forum. There will be a contact form that allows members to send messages via e-mail, and of course there will be PMs. The only way someone could get your e-mail is if they send you an e-mail via the contact form and you reply to it.

I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised by the capabilities of the new software, particularly in the area of account management. You'll have a lot of control over your forum experience.

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Author: GundarkHunter
Time: 2-Nov-2005 6:16 PM
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Sounds good, although I must say that nobody's spammed me or given me hate email as a result of being on the forum. Maybe it's because I'm largely non-confrontational... for a lawyer.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

Author: Bossk
Time: 3-Nov-2005 11:04 AM
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Originally posted by: GundarkHunter
Maybe it's because I'm largely non-confrontational... for a lawyer.

Ironic, isn't it?

Author: Shimraa
Time: 3-Nov-2005 6:04 PM
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hey jay
can you give email acounts to the top members in the forums ??? not that i need one i was jsut wondering.

Author: Jay
Time: 3-Nov-2005 7:31 PM
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Originally posted by: Shimraa
hey jay
can you give email acounts to the top members in the forums ??? not that i need one i was jsut wondering.

Possibly.

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MTFBWY…A

Author: GundarkHunter
Time: 3-Nov-2005 10:40 PM
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That would solve the whole freemail issue for some of us.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

Author: Bossk
Time: 4-Nov-2005 9:20 AM
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Hmmm... bossk@originaltrilogy.com has a nice ring to it!

Author: GundarkHunter
Time: 4-Nov-2005 1:44 PM
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As does gundarkhunter@originaltrilogy.com.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

Author: Shimraa
Time: 5-Nov-2005 6:32 PM
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Originally posted by: Jay

Originally posted by: Shimraa
hey jay
can you give email acounts to the top members in the forums ??? not that i need one i was jsut wondering.

Possibly.

that would be awesome Shimraa@Originaltrilogy.com that would be quite nice

Author: skyman8081
Time: 6-Nov-2005 2:05 AM
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skyman8081@originaltrilogy.com ?

I'd hit it.

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

Author: Adamwankenobi
Time: 7-Nov-2005 3:40 AM
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Adamwankenobi@originaltrilogy.com