There are several instances where this can be useful, but it's best with the member that we all love to hate, GHF. I, quite honestly, am tired of emailing Reltair about the problem, and I'm guessing that Reltair is tired of dealing with the problem. My original idea was to just ignore the idiot, but it seems that some of you are too fucking stupid to use such an easy concept, so I'll go with a plan B.

This idea is fairly simple, although I'm not sure how hard it'll be for Reltair to actually do this. I'll admit that I wasn't the first one to think this, but I figure that the idea will get more support if there was a suggestion for it.

Let's start with the basics. What exactly is a proxy?

You may see references to four different types of proxy servers:

Transparent Proxy

This type of proxy server identifies itself as a proxy server and also makes the original IP address available through the http headers. These are generally used for their ability to cache websites and do not effectively provide any anonymity to those who use them. However, the use of a transparent proxy will get you around simple IP bans. They are transparent in the terms that your IP address is exposed, not transparent in the terms that you do not know that you are using it (your system is not specifically configured to use it.)

Anonymous Proxy

This type of proxy server identifies itself as a proxy server, but does not make the original IP address available. This type of proxy server is detectable, but provides reasonable anonymity for most users.

Distorting Proxy

This type of proxy server identifies itself as a proxy server, but make an incorrect original IP address available through the http headers.

High Anonymity Proxy

This type of proxy server does not identify itself as a proxy server and does not make available the original IP address.

For more information, click here.

To put it into simple terms, for all of you people who don't know much about computers, proxy is a short term for proxy server. A proxy server is a "third party" so to speak that your internet will go through before heading to the website chosen. This causes your IP address to be changed, therefor preventing the simple IP ban. An IP address is a code that the internet uses to tell the difference between your computer and everyone else's. It appears in the form of ###.###.###.### though there can be two or three numbers in each designated spot. If two computers are sharing an internet connection, their IP will be similar, but there will be a small difference. For instance, Say my IP address was 205.95.64.109 on this computer. Then my friend came over and used the same internet connection. Their IP address could appear as 205.95.64.117.

Each of our IP addresses are translated into our IDs, which is why some of the members can tell if you're samefagging or not. That small difference will give you a different ID, so you're ID will be different even if you'er using the same interenet connection.

Either way, this thread wasn't made for me to preach about what a proxy and IP is. Essentially, a proxy will make your IP look different and therefor prevents IP bans. IP bans are supposed to keep someone from ever getting on unless something happens to change their IP. We have several failtrolls returning with proxies to allow them on here, and this prevents Reltair from banning the person effectively. Consequently, they are only banned until they find a new proxy server to go through. Basically, the "trolls" that you keep asking Reltair to ban keeps returning because of proxies, but there is a way for Reltair to prevent people from using those.

An example of an internet proxy is hidemyass.com

The whole point of this whole thread is simple. I want enough people to agree to this to get Reltair to block the proxies to this site.

ps If any of this information is incorrect, feel free to leave a comment correcting my mistake. It's been a while since I've worked with proxies, so I'm a little fuzzy on the information, and I never was really sure about the technical stuff going on in the background. I only know that IPs tell computers apart and proxies change IPs.

I don't know too much about proxies as I am nearly computer illiterate. I did, however, find one piece of incorrect information in here, it has nothing to do with proxies but I do want to fix it. (I'm not nitpicking, just want to keep this clear) Different computers can show up with the same IP. I know this because my brother's posts often show up with the same IP as mine. Without a proxy we would be unable to get around this. Other people use proxies for various reasons. Go ahead and ban proxies if you wish, I just won't support it.

>>2 That's a typical problem. In general the IP doesn't change from one computer to the next, but uses the same for anyone on the same server.

I've also witnessed people with the same ID that are clearly different people, and thereby overlooked it. Most of the time, people don't call a samefag unless their being moronic. Like if someone makes a thread and everyone seems against it, then another user of the same ID comes in to defend it, samefag. Or when two users of the same ID are carrying on a conversation or tag-teaming against someone else, samefag especially in the sense that if you want to talk to each other, you're obviously close enough to just go do it. However, if two separate people utilize the same IP while acting as independent, thinking members, I don't see any reason as to why they'd have to be rebuked.

>>2 Nitpicking is good. I was obviously wrong then, and I'll admit that.

I really wouldn't care about proxies, but there are several failtroll returning on them and I kind of want them out. I wouldn't even care them if the idiots would stop feeding the fucking trolls and just ignore the fuckers, but that seems impossible, so this is the only possible solution I can think of.

Since this is the only possible solution that I can think of, and there are obvious holes in it, can anyone else give me a better one?

>>4 I had considered this, but it's usefulness is dearly limited. Half of the issue people have with GHF is his name, or at least that'd make sense since the name has the same intent as his message, and even as of late he seems more open to actual discussion, but people are still dubious to discuss anything with him because of the implications of his username. Would it be at all possible to ban certain usernames from being posted, or am I off-base as well?

>>4 I don't have a better idea, that's the problem. And honestly I think he's more than one person, which would make him even harder to ban.

>>3 I've had people call samefag on us when we had completely different opinions and writing styles. It kinda pissed me off.

>>5 I don't think it's possible to ban usernames. Especially since he could just stick numbers or symbols into the name and change it.

There's no need to ban proxies in order to punish *one* member while others are using them correctly. To do so would punish the intended one or two spammers, but the net would also catch other users who are using it correctly.

>>6
There's no point in banning a name of a spammer simply because they'll have no trouble switching names, similar to how they switch proxies. (But yes, it is possible)

So, that still leaves the problem at hand. How to get rid of spammers coming in from multiple ip's?
I'll list a few options, but keep in mind that I'm just throwing as many possible out there.

1) The problem with banning ip's is that other users get called samefagging when they may be on the same network.
Now, I know this may be a radical thought, but listen:
What if we removed ID's?
The obvious downside: plenty of samefags. However, this would help those who share a connection, while still banning proxies.
But then again, we'd have plenty of samefags.
Now, why are samefags bad?
Simply put, they're annoying. Seeing someone argue/ agree with themselves is annoying. The reason we don't like samefags is because they're annoying.
Take away the power to identify them, however, and suddenly you're left in a blind, ignorant state.
I know this may seem strange, but we'd never have to deal with samefags again, simply because there would be no way to call them out besides posting style. Again, we'd be in an ignorant bliss.

2) This one's rather simple.
We ignore GHF and other spammers, and bump off their posts from the visible 3 in every thread, deleting posts after. Now, this will only cut down some of the posting, but it's a partial solution.

3) More efficient moderation.
Spammers are either one of two main kinds:
-They spam as far as possible and as quickly as possible
-They spam consistently in one area
Now, obviously GHF is mainly in ONE THREAD. All Reltair would have to do would check that one thread per day and clean up some posts.

Now, I'd like to discuss in particular the "we need to keep banning ______" problem.
I'm not sure as to why you keep submitting ban requests, so let me explain.
All GHF has done is express their opinion.
Sure, it's hateful, stupid, and obviously written with the grammatical skills of a kid in middle school, but it's just that:
An opinion.

The only thing we ban for is by porn, gore, and overt spamming.
Now, I can see how we might have a grey area of banning GHF because of the spamming. However, he/ she/ it has kept mostly to one thread, and as annoying as it is, it's not really the spamming we put out bans for.
No, we usually only ban for spamming multiple boards with the same/ similar message over and over again. We've all been through a time or two when this was happened, and it was dealt with efficiently.
However, GHF has kept to one thread, repeatedly shouting their opinion over and over like some kind of child who needs attention (and probably is).

If we banned based on repeated instances of an opinion, then we might as well ban everyone who says "yeah I like that feature too!" every time someone posts in their (INSERT GAME NAME HERE) thread. It's the same thing, really. (Just less annoying and hurtful to others)

But if it's hurtful to others, shouldn't we ban them?
Well, then we would also need to ban all the older members as well. Don't tell me that there hasn't been a time or two (or several, even) where you repeatedly told people who made new, irrelevant threads on a board to fuck off. Almost every time a new thread is made in error, it's bombarded with the same hateful message over and over.
And yet we don't ban those people, because they "have the same opinion as we do." A lot of people agree when there is a thread made erroneously, hence why they keep doing it.

Hell, members aren't even banned for PURPOSEFULLY spamming spiderman pictures in threads they find erroneous, case in point. (I'm not saying those threads were made correctly, I'm simply pointing out that they are still spammed in a similar manner).

So really, these kinds of bans go down to "who has a different opinion than me that I can ban because I don't like them?", which is ridiculous.

There's no really good solution to this, as it's a rather grey area. I apologize in advance if any part of this came off as hostile, or was simply too damn long to read (which is understandable).

/thread

>>7
This

>>7 Thank you Black for just being so damn smart.

Look, I'm all for banning IP addresses. If two or more users share an IP, and one gets them all banned, the others would kick that one person's ass for getting them banned, and then they reset their IP. Believe it or not, as much a pain in the ass it is, you can reset your IP.

"My original idea was to just ignore the idiot, but it seems that some of you are too fucking stupid to use such an easy concept, so I'll go with a plan B."

AHHAHAHHAHAHAHA OMG LEIGHA XDDDDXDXD Y U SO FUNNEH HAHAHHAHA

Gee, why is that so familiar?

And also, I was going to just call this suggestion stupid and leave but I guess >>7 did a better job of rephrasing that.

But there are some things I must point out as well. Like Misoup once said, this BBS is run by a community and if we can't handle a spammer or two without the usage of bans and blocks, then it kinda shows how useless we are. Oh but this is just a simplified version of what I /think/ he said. An exact quote would be more verbose and sophisticated.

Uh what was my point again?

damnit I forgot, but you guys take the spammer thing waaaay too seriously.

And Spidermanning is great okay >:I

I think this would affect me...maybe.

I really have no idea.

>>12 "Ewe"

>>7 I'd rather deal with samefagging than him, but you have a point. Either way, had this been over his last incident of posting "God Hates Fags!" all over that particular thread, then I'd admit that you are right.

The issue now is the part where he fills with "The Dollars Hates Fags". This can be quite an issue if new members see this and don't understand that we have a fucktard spammer that we can't seem to get rid of.

I'd also like to point out that there was a point where his spam was pointed at more than one thread. There was a point where it was pointed on any thread Barabi or I made or any thread that Barabi posted on. This meant that multiple threads were filled with his bullshit.

Based on Black's amazing ability to make a valid point, I'll say that I'd just end it with that if GHF will keep his bullshit to one thread and keeps shit like, "The Dollars Hates Fags" or "Fags aren't allowed in the Dollars" out of his bullshit. Other than that, we can keep him as a retarded pet dog or something and let him roam around free and be the attention whore he is.

LEIGHA MOSCOVE LOVES ME! XD

>>1 hay if you know any more good proxies please tell me

>>17 I just told you a shitty one. You see, I do know some good ones. I just didn't want GHF to get them.

>>7 I agree totally.And thank you for making me feel stupid because im in honors english 9 and had to look up "erroneous" in the dictionary.
Anyways,I agree.There have been multiple times where you see groups of people fighting on here for the same frivolous reasons-because they dont agree.It happens all the time on the missions,random and personal boards.You cant ban just because you hate.And I've said it before,you ask the world a question,and they will be divided on it.I know Im repeating Black here,but when somethings pretty damn smart in this senseless world,you tend to repeat it/them.