IP banning, just like at Swords of REH

[1F409]

Today, when attempting to visit this forum, He-Man World, I was met with a server message (see image, below) citing my entire block of IP addresses as having been banned. It is the same situation that occurred at the Swords of REH forum about a year ago, after I had posted my RPG adaptation of the Hyborian Age (i.e., Conan the Barbarian). Like clockwork, it happened here, too, mere days after I posted a portion of the same material; and likewise, there was no warning, no explanation, no avenue of redress. Personally, I find the circumstances too strange to be mere coincidence, and suspect that some person or group may be deliberately interfering with my ability to publicize my work.

Shortly after discovering the block, I posted to my Gab account to let any followers know what had happened. Soon afterward, and just as unexpectedly, I found myself once more able to visit the site. However, as with the situation on the REH forum, I expect that this current access is probably an oversight rather than a restoration, and will soon disappear.

[1F409]

Posted a followup on Gab, mentioning my restored access (and questioning how long it would last), then immediately got blocked from here again. This is the same scenario as with Swords of REH, where I hunted for an IP address that let me in, then they apparently noticed it and blocked that route too.

[Mechanizor]

Interesting, probably your IP is being monitored by your ISP for whatever suspicious reasoning behind it, and if this keeps happening to you, probably using a VPN could help, or contact you ISP to find out why!

[1F409]

I do use a VPN. Believe me, I was surprised to find that Proboards had unilaterally blocked it all around the globe. I think this is just a taste of the totalitarian garbage we're going to see in the coming years.

[Mechanizor]

Did you ever get a cease and desist notification/email/letter on any of your content before?.... Some companies or publishers can be hard to deal with when it comes to using their Intellectual Properties without their permission you know!... Unless your IP/VPN address has some issues like bugs, or some security alerts!

Also I suggest cleaning or clearing your cookies, history and cache. Also try using a different device than the one you're using right now and see if the problem goes away!

[1F409]

Nothing so official as a letter. The company which made the old GURPS Conan supplement decades ago, and has since re-published it, might be playing fake-legal games with me, though. One of their writers saw my Conan write-up and suggested I submit it to their magazine, Pyramid, but I politely rebuffed him on account of the horrendous treatment I'd received by some of their staff -- the closest *analogy* to describe what happened was that one of their head moderators/writers, with sadistically-gleeful hubris, "outed" me on their public forum (which actually endangered me on account of a stalker).

The aforementioned company owns no special rights to the Conan character or the setting, but, because they've shown themselves to be such rats, I wouldn't put it past them to send out scare letters to forums where I've posted my far-superior adaptation of the source material. Either that, or it's the makers of the current "licensed" Conan game (using a "2d20" model) -- I have no experience of them, but they could just as easily be doing this, in an attempt to quash rightful competition.

Or, it could be just an extraordinarily-improbable coincidence in which two separate forums ban me, a year apart, both within days of me posting the same content to each... yeah, right.

[Andy]

I don't know if I can give you a direct answer but if enough questions get asked then you can maybe get an answer or clue of direction to help you out.

Do you use a phone or laptop or both sometimes. If so has one given you less or more problems with the forums

Do you strictly use one VPN or do you frequently have to change countries.

Sorry it's been a while for me so I'm trying to get more understanding

[Andy]

What web browsers do you use, also have you missed any updates.

Might it be from an app error.

Like Mech said it's odd. Sorry you're having the trouble

[1F409]

GNU/Linux, Brave, everything up to date. Not a security pro, but I know the basics.

[Andy]

I'd try running a few different virus Protectors/Scanners. I've had to run Virus Cleaner a few times to log into different forums at different times. Also I have to switch to the desktop site to edit my posts sometimes.

[Mechanizor]

Hmm, can you contact your ISP and see if there is a gag order against your IP and who's behind it?... This is really strange.

[1F409]

I'd say it's iffy whether they could tell me (anything serious, they can't; anything lightweight, they ignore). Plus, with a non-ISP-based VPN, there's no easy way for complainants to connect my online identity with the ISP account. As a purely informational measure to find out whether *someone* is after me for *something*, though, sure.

[Captain Atkin]

As the Admin of this site, I have no idea what would cause that to happen. It could be a VBulletin directive across all their VB5 forums to block that particular IP address, but I have no idea why that would be. I suspect the issue is something outside of the forums.

[1F409]

I just wanted you to be aware, in case I mysteriously cease posting.

[1F409]

As the Admin of this site, I have no idea what would cause that to happen. It could be a VBulletin directive across all their VB5 forums to block that particular IP address, but I have no idea why that would be. I suspect the issue is something outside of the forums.

It was even worse today -- I had to try half a dozen different VPN exits before getting through.

As the administrator, would you please check with the hosting company (or whatever the appropriate party) to find out what's really going on?

Again, I find the timing to be *extremely* suspicious, this happening an entire year after I signed up, but mere days after I posted my Conan writeup -- basically just like what happened on the Swords of REH board. It could be the most ridiculous coincidence ever, but it sounds more like protectionist sneak tactics, perhaps from Steve Jackson Games (the original GURPS Conan), or maybe even from the creators of the new Conan "2d20" game.