2 replies to this topic

[Valik]

In the next 24-hours we will be rolling We have rolled out a new site-wide system for blocking users. Users who are blocked will be sent to a read-only version of the website which you can find here. There are several reasons we are doing this. This page explains some of it.

First we are going to be blocking known spammers. This will affect some of you. It already has because the system was temporarily rolled into place and a few of you were blocked. We know it will affect some of you and that is why the read-only site exists. It would have been a lot easier if we hadn't made a read-only site and just left an error page for those of you who are blocked. If you are accidentally blocked please do not be upset. We will work with you as this page explains.

We are trying to make this a better place. Keeping spammers out is one part of that. The other part is keeping malicious users out. That's where the Tor, public proxy and manual blocks come in. Tor and public proxies make it way too easy for a user we don't want to come back time and time again. It's happened numerous times already. It makes our lives much easier if we just out-right block all users using those tools. If those tools are the only way you can access this site (for example, you are using it to evade a work or school block on our site) then you can still continue to use them to access the read-only mirror.

So what can you do on the read-only mirror? Well, read. That's about it. You can download files and browse the forum or issue tracker. If your machine happens to have a valid login cookie for the forum then it will still continue to function. However, if you log out
of the forum you will not be able to log in. You can not log in to the read-only site. The read-only site is designed so that everybody can still read our content but the malicious users won't be able to mess with our content.

We aren't trying to make your lives more difficult. Hopefully none of you will be affected but that's an unrealistic dream. We are trying to make this a cleaner place. A place that requires less work on our part to administrate so we can do productive things like develop AutoIt instead of baby-sit.

Edited by Valik, 28 February 2012 - 05:14 PM.

[Valik]

The new system is in place. There are a few quirks that need worked out.

[Valik]

This system has now been in place for nearly 3 years. It has been a huge success. There have been countless times where people have stated they would make a new account and come back. In a handful of cases they did just that. In those cases they gave me clues to obtaining dozens if not hundreds of additional proxy addresses to block. Then they were, of course, immediately blocked again never to be heard from.

The take-away from this is simple. Can you evade the system? Yes, but doing so only makes it stronger. Otherwise the system stops you from coming back. In either case we benefit. So that leaves all of you with a choice: When we block you permanently, are you going to spend your time and energy making our system stronger? Or are you going to accept that you are not welcome and walk away? I welcome either eventuality because I know in the end you will be gone permanently.

I'm taking this opportunity to pin this topic so it's more visible.

Edited by Valik, 28 February 2012 - 05:14 PM.