Should AOL users be allowed to post? w/ *poll*

[Rallispec]

i do recall Zuni or somebody saying a while back that they were possibly considering allowing members to post while using AOL if they are an anandtech subscriber--- not sure if that is still in the works or not.

 

[Ryan]

HELL NO!!! AOLers SUCK!!!!!

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: Entity
No, but not because of the users -- it's because of AOL itself.

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iamshady,

YOU are welcome on AnandTech. AOL is NOT! AOL is banned from AnandTech as BOTH an email address and as an ISP. This means that, regardless of your registered email address, you cannot post on AnandTech while you are logged onto AOL.

This action was necessary because, awhile back, we came under constant attack from a very nasty troll who uses AOL as his base. His idea of fun was to challenge the moderators to see how far he could go in vandalizing our forums. When he was banned, he would just register again under another name and continue his activities and then brag about it on other forums.

Unlike every other major ISP we have dealt with under similar circumstances, AOL repeatedly refused to give us appropriate technical assistance to stop him. Our moderators are unpaid volunteers, and we simply do not have time to deal with irresponsible ISP's such as AOL.

The sad result is that, if you wish to post on AnandTech, it will have to be with another email provider AND from another, hopefully more responsible ISP. You can do this and still keep your AOL membership. AOL has a program that allows you to do so for around $10 - $12 per month, AS LONG AS you use another dial-up provider for your ISP.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

AnandTech Moderator

Rob

Yeah, my point still stands. If you just ban people from registering under AOL, that problem wouldn't have happened.

If you argue that he could register under another ISP, then post on AOL..then um, why wouldn't he just nef under that ISP instead?

When a user is continuously disruptive, all the mods do is ban his IP or whatever..

But if a user registers under another IP, goes to AOL for some reason, becomes disruptive, you can just ban the IP he registered at, and the solution would be 100% identical to the one above, with AOL as a "middleman".

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: Syringer

If you argue that he could register under another ISP, then post on AOL..then um, why wouldn't he just nef under that ISP instead?

registration is a one time thing. they can register through library or friend's computer.

neffing requires a lot of time

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Entity
No, but not because of the users -- it's because of AOL itself.

Read (non-subscriber)
More details.(non-sub link)

iamshady,

YOU are welcome on AnandTech. AOL is NOT! AOL is banned from AnandTech as BOTH an email address and as an ISP. This means that, regardless of your registered email address, you cannot post on AnandTech while you are logged onto AOL.

This action was necessary because, awhile back, we came under constant attack from a very nasty troll who uses AOL as his base. His idea of fun was to challenge the moderators to see how far he could go in vandalizing our forums. When he was banned, he would just register again under another name and continue his activities and then brag about it on other forums.

Unlike every other major ISP we have dealt with under similar circumstances, AOL repeatedly refused to give us appropriate technical assistance to stop him. Our moderators are unpaid volunteers, and we simply do not have time to deal with irresponsible ISP's such as AOL.

The sad result is that, if you wish to post on AnandTech, it will have to be with another email provider AND from another, hopefully more responsible ISP. You can do this and still keep your AOL membership. AOL has a program that allows you to do so for around $10 - $12 per month, AS LONG AS you use another dial-up provider for your ISP.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

AnandTech Moderator

Rob

That is retarded. Some solution the mods put in place

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: Syringer

If you argue that he could register under another ISP, then post on AOL..then um, why wouldn't he just nef under that ISP instead?

registration is a one time thing. they can register through library or friend's computer.

neffing requires a lot of time

Have you NOT read anything that I've said?

What stops them from neffing at the library or their friend's computer??

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: Syringer

If you argue that he could register under another ISP, then post on AOL..then um, why wouldn't he just nef under that ISP instead?

registration is a one time thing. they can register through library or friend's computer.

neffing requires a lot of time

Have you NOT read anything that I've said?

What stops them from neffing at the library or their friend's computer??

i doubt somebody would go to that length just to neff. spending 5 minutes is a lot different from spending hours on a library/friend's computer.

i don't really care though. the forum has enough neffing as it is and id bout it could get much worse

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: dighn


i doubt somebody would go to that length just to neff. spending 5 minutes is a lot different from spending hours on a library/friend's computer.

Neffing is not the problem. Flooding the forums with endless posts, as the AOL user in question did, and then re-registering when he got banned is why AOL users are all banned. It doesn't take more than a few minutes to flood the forums, and by that time he'd be banned, and unable to register again.

And how does posting from friend's computer refrain anyone from doing whatever they wanted to?

i don't really care though.

Then what difference does it make?

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: Entity
No, but not because of the users -- it's because of AOL itself.

Read (non-subscriber)
More details.(non-sub link)

iamshady,

YOU are welcome on AnandTech. AOL is NOT! AOL is banned from AnandTech as BOTH an email address and as an ISP. This means that, regardless of your registered email address, you cannot post on AnandTech while you are logged onto AOL.

This action was necessary because, awhile back, we came under constant attack from a very nasty troll who uses AOL as his base. His idea of fun was to challenge the moderators to see how far he could go in vandalizing our forums. When he was banned, he would just register again under another name and continue his activities and then brag about it on other forums.

Unlike every other major ISP we have dealt with under similar circumstances, AOL repeatedly refused to give us appropriate technical assistance to stop him. Our moderators are unpaid volunteers, and we simply do not have time to deal with irresponsible ISP's such as AOL.

The sad result is that, if you wish to post on AnandTech, it will have to be with another email provider AND from another, hopefully more responsible ISP. You can do this and still keep your AOL membership. AOL has a program that allows you to do so for around $10 - $12 per month, AS LONG AS you use another dial-up provider for your ISP.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

AnandTech Moderator

Rob

Yeah, my point still stands. If you just ban people from registering under AOL, that problem wouldn't have happened.

If you argue that he could register under another ISP, then post on AOL..then um, why wouldn't he just nef under that ISP instead?

When a user is continuously disruptive, all the mods do is ban his IP or whatever..

But if a user registers under another IP, goes to AOL for some reason, becomes disruptive, you can just ban the IP he registered at, and the solution would be 100% identical to the one above, with AOL as a "middleman".

Though I'm not positive, I don't think the software here can prevent IP blocks from registering.

Rob

 

[dighn]

should havee read more carefully. didn' t know you were talking about flooding. in that case you can't really stop it by banning aol but still it might help some unless they are really determined which sounds like the case here. but anyway sounds like it stopped so i guess it worked?

i don't care but i thought others might

 

[Torghn]

Keep normal AOL users baned for sure. However I would allow AOL users to subscribe and gain access. If they start acting up, disable their account and keep their money.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: Entity

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: Entity
No, but not because of the users -- it's because of AOL itself.

Read (non-subscriber)
More details.(non-sub link)

iamshady,

YOU are welcome on AnandTech. AOL is NOT! AOL is banned from AnandTech as BOTH an email address and as an ISP. This means that, regardless of your registered email address, you cannot post on AnandTech while you are logged onto AOL.

This action was necessary because, awhile back, we came under constant attack from a very nasty troll who uses AOL as his base. His idea of fun was to challenge the moderators to see how far he could go in vandalizing our forums. When he was banned, he would just register again under another name and continue his activities and then brag about it on other forums.

Unlike every other major ISP we have dealt with under similar circumstances, AOL repeatedly refused to give us appropriate technical assistance to stop him. Our moderators are unpaid volunteers, and we simply do not have time to deal with irresponsible ISP's such as AOL.

The sad result is that, if you wish to post on AnandTech, it will have to be with another email provider AND from another, hopefully more responsible ISP. You can do this and still keep your AOL membership. AOL has a program that allows you to do so for around $10 - $12 per month, AS LONG AS you use another dial-up provider for your ISP.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

AnandTech Moderator

Rob

Yeah, my point still stands. If you just ban people from registering under AOL, that problem wouldn't have happened.

If you argue that he could register under another ISP, then post on AOL..then um, why wouldn't he just nef under that ISP instead?

When a user is continuously disruptive, all the mods do is ban his IP or whatever..

But if a user registers under another IP, goes to AOL for some reason, becomes disruptive, you can just ban the IP he registered at, and the solution would be 100% identical to the one above, with AOL as a "middleman".

Though I'm not positive, I don't think the software here can prevent IP blocks from registering.

Rob

That shouldn't be a very hard thing to implement at all.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: MisterPresident
No, if they are smart enough to figure out how to use a public proxy, then they'll be able to post.

Its obviously possible since I'm on AOL, but its a pain in the ass, I can't log in, I can't edit messages, I can't use PM, I can't use the javascript buttons, if I forget to type my username and password at the top I have to go back and retype the message(like I just did 3 times here)....PITA.

 

[chiwawa626]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: MisterPresident
No, if they are smart enough to figure out how to use a public proxy, then they'll be able to post.

Its obviously possible since I'm on AOL, but its a pain in the ass, I can't log in, I can't edit messages, I can't use PM, I can't use the javascript buttons, if I forget to type my username and password at the top I have to go back and retype the message(like I just did 3 times here)....PITA.

copy and paste

 

[Eli]

I have a feeling that this thread doesen't represent the true feelings of ATOT, rather everybody jumped on the bandwagon because "aol sucks".

 

[Fudssa]

Originally posted by: jumpr
AOL sucks. There's no reason why ANYONE should be using it. I don't care if these people's parents use AOL - it indicates the stupidity of the entire family. KEEP THEM BANNED!

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Couldn't AOL users go thru a proxy to use the forums?

EDIT: Guess I shoulda read the thread first.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Fudssa

Originally posted by: jumpr
AOL sucks. There's no reason why ANYONE should be using it. I don't care if these people's parents use AOL - it indicates the stupidity of the entire family. KEEP THEM BANNED!

I'm pretty sure I'm NOT stupid...back when I actually lived here, I wouldn't use AOL, I paid for my own dialup ISP that didn't suck as bad....but if I'm gonna be here for 3 months, I'll be damned if I'm gonna waste my money on another ISP when my parents are already paying for one.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Should (former) AOL users be allowed to start up a tech forum?

 

[KC5AV]

Burn them!! er, um... I mean BAN them!!!

 

[jonmullen]

If your using alot thats the first of your many problems

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

Seems like this thing is still going... so once agian!

HELL no!

 

[Snapster]

Given what I've seen happen at other boards, no

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: jumpr
AOL sucks. There's no reason why ANYONE should be using it. I don't care if these people's parents use AOL - it indicates the stupidity of the entire family. KEEP THEM BANNED!

I just reformatted my father-in-law's machine & put on his beloved AOL (that fvcking hosed his system in the first place), his question of the year, after 6 years of using AOL:

"What is AOL?"

Aaaaarrrrgggghhhhhh

 

[mpitts]

I said it before and I will say it again:

He who owns the forums makes the rules.

If someone doesn't like how Anand has decided to run HIS forums, then THAT INDIVIDUAL needs to deal with it.