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Is the AOL ban still in force? Yes. AnandTech Moderator

M

Mark R

Diamond Member
It's likely that I shall soon be forced into connecting to the internet only via AOL. (Phone system probs - my current phone line at the flat provided by my employer cannot dial any of the numbers used by all ISPs except AOL, and no, I can't install a new line either).

I don't want to be left out, so is there anything I can do?

---

Sorry. Trolls did the dirty work, but AOL refuesd to do anything to help. AOL will probably not be welcome until at least the next millennium.

AnandTech Moderator
 
The ban is still in force AFAIK. If you can ONLY connect to the internet via AOL, I don't think there is a way around it. 🙁
 
I personally think the aol ban has gone on long enough. I think that it is time for the administrator to at least lift the ban for some legnth of time to see how it goes. The ban does not hurt AOL only people and I believe this site. One way to do it is to allow AOL users to subscribe.
Bleep
 
Anandtech isn't the first to have banned AOL. I know many IRC servers have imposed the ban (whether or not it's been lifted, I've no idea) as well. I, for one, do not think the ban should be lifted. Their track record is just too poor.
 
What track record are you talking about?? We are talking about individuals here, people, not a webservice. AOL will not help with abuse but to allow aol users to subscribe to the forums in some respects takes away the little pi$$ants that abuse the service they are using.
Bleep
 
> I don't want to be left out, so is there anything I can do?

Presumably this would be ok with the powers that be (if not, I suspect I'll quickly find out). There are a number of free/paid proxy servers available on the net. If you where to subscribe to one of those and then browse via it to here, you would come from their IP. This would allow you, presumably, to circumvent the AOL ban. Seems fair, you would need to jump thru enough hoops to do it that it would (at least on the surface) show you where serious about using the system but still keep the general mass twerps from invading the site 😉

Bill
 
correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't aol banned because of the overwhelming number of people abusing it here? I personally think things are running fine, maybe things can be worked out in a case by case situation, maybe an exception with you some how mark since you have been around for so long, but for the most part I think the ban should be kept.
 
> maybe an exception with you some how mark since you have been around for so long, but for the most part I think the ban should be kept

While that sounds reasonably, I believe the ban is on IP addresses, so their is no way to selectively apply it.
Bill
 


<< correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't aol banned because of the overwhelming number of people abusing it here? >>



If I'm right, AOL was not only banned for the users who were abusive, but also because they (AOL) refused to do anything about them.
 
AOL won't deal with the abuse. Hell, they never cared about all the porn that my kids were getting in their emails either. Nobody in this house uses AOL anymore. All they care about is getting their subscription money.
 


<< > I don't want to be left out, so is there anything I can do?

Presumably this would be ok with the powers that be (if not, I suspect I'll quickly find out). There are a number of free/paid proxy servers available on the net. If you where to subscribe to one of those and then browse via it to here, you would come from their IP. This would allow you, presumably, to circumvent the AOL ban. Seems fair, you would need to jump thru enough hoops to do it that it would (at least on the surface) show you where serious about using the system but still keep the general mass twerps from invading the site 😉

Bill >>



I believe those are banned as well (Like anonimizer). I'm just guessing, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
 


<< If I'm right, AOL was not only banned for the users who were abusive, but also because they (AOL) refused to do anything about them. >>


Yup, you're right.

Rob
 
We will not be allowing AOL anytime soon. Allowing an anonymous service that freely allows their subscribers to go around abusing other peoples systems and networks is absurd. Sorry for those that weren't part of the problem, but the few ruined it for the many. It's AOL's problem not AnandTechs.
 
> Allowing an anonymous service that freely allows their subscribers to go around abusing other peoples systems and networks is absurd

Zuni, for whats it's worth, I found that the paid proxy server services are very good at policing problems with their users (unlike AOL). There usually much smaller companies and realize the damage that would be caused if everyone started blocking their ip's.

My 2 cents, your mileage may vary 😉
Bill
 
What about the subscription server, does AT allow aol'ers who pay? If so might be a solution to Mark R's problem.
 
nope, even if you pay, your still bannished if you use AOL...it sucks but hey you should have seen OT before the ban was in place...
 


<< What about the subscription server, does AT allow aol'ers who pay? If so might be a solution to Mark R's problem. >>



I also think that VERY FEW people would pay for AT without ever using the free service first. Just think of how many people there are around here with 3000+ posts, but still haven't subscribed.
 
I'm gonna give this thread a bump.

2 years ago I bought my first comp. To be able to afford it, I had to do one of those 3-year ISP deals with a nice rebate. MSN hadn't gotten into that game yet (as far as I'm aware) so Compuserve was to be my ISP.

Recently AOL bought out Compuserve. My ISP is still Compuserve, not AOL, but I guess I have an AOL IP now, because when I sign on with Compuserve, I am banned from the AT forums.

Luckily I can use my dad's msn connection when I need to get on AT.

But this is huge pain in the ass. Mods, if you ever get a spare moment, I'd appreciate it if you could look into this, to see if there's some way to separate the AOL's from the Compuserves.
 
I understand the the Mods have their reasons to ban aol service users.
But I am an AOL user. I use it only because I have a free legit account with them. I have had free AOL for about 1 yr now. I used to give out the AOL cds to people when I worked for staples, and they would credit me. My free AOL account will end in July, so then I will be on a boradband connection.
There are ways around the ban, which I will not go in depth about, but a http free proxy is the way to go. It only takes like 1 min to do also.
I just use my normal IE window.
good luck


mark
 


<< I'm gonna give this thread a bump.

2 years ago I bought my first comp. To be able to afford it, I had to do one of those 3-year ISP deals with a nice rebate. MSN hadn't gotten into that game yet (as far as I'm aware) so Compuserve was to be my ISP.

Recently AOL bought out Compuserve. My ISP is still Compuserve, not AOL, but I guess I have an AOL IP now, because when I sign on with Compuserve, I am banned from the AT forums.

Luckily I can use my dad's msn connection when I need to get on AT.

But this is huge pain in the ass. Mods, if you ever get a spare moment, I'd appreciate it if you could look into this, to see if there's some way to separate the AOL's from the Compuserves. >>



The compuserve IP's are the same as the AOL IP's. You will have more luck calling up Compuserve (Remember AOL will answer the phone), and ask to have a seperate IP from the AOL people. You still won't have any luck, but that's just why so many people hate AOL.
 
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