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.

[1F409]

As per Atkin's suggestion, I sent vBulletin an e-mail today, asking whether they have any insight or suggestions. We'll see.

[Mechanizor]

As per Atkin's suggestion, I sent vBulletin an e-mail today, asking whether they have any insight or suggestions. We'll see.

What if you use your actual IP without a VPN, would it work?

[1F409]

I can only assume that you're being facetious.

[Mechanizor]

Yes, and no!
I'm just intrigued if the privacy related filters have something to do with those technical glitches or not!

[1F409]

All things being equal, I'd say it's likely that someone doesn't like VPNs, and in their hubris introduced an overly-broad ban to "teach a lesson" to anyone using such services. Naturally, I'm not going to remove my protections just to gain access, let alone to appease them! However, my experience is that not all things are equal, at least not in this particular case, as it appears that somebody has put the word out in the REH fandom and all doors are now closed to me. Whom ever is behind it must carry some weight, as even submitting a request via the REH Foundation's own contact form has failed to get a reply.

[1F409]

I received a reply from vBulletin, today. Basically a giant middle finger.

[Mechanizor]

I received a reply from vBulletin, today. Basically a giant middle finger.

Could you elaborate please a little, did they just ignore your inquiries, or refused to help out?

[1F409]

"Hello.

"I'm sorry, this is a Customer Support service only, not a forum user service.

"If the owner wishes to contact us about issues with their forum, they can do so however we are unable to provide support to non-License owners.

"Best regards,"

[1F409]

Quick update: It's still happening, here about a third of the time, and still permanently over at Swords of REH. The interesting development, now, is that the REH Foundation has refused to answer my query submitted via their contact form. That's three significant incidents of a like theme centered around the same topic, which suggests to me that I'm being deliberately blacklisted -- and that doesn't even count the miscellaneous smaller incidents in which REH-related individuals have individually cut me off, as if I'd done something personally offensive.

[Mechanizor]

Well, if you're saying they're not clean and they're a bunch of hypocrites, might as well, try your "indirect" ways... I mean, if you try to claim that you're someone else, with a made up initials in you new gmail or whatever email provider you use, how can they verify it's not you?!
It's a forum for God's sake, not a governmental or a banking institution!...

In addition, can't anybody else you know or trust get that info you're seeking for you?... It's not a like a "top secret" file or something!

Also people slamming their doors in your face is also puzzling to me, unless you've committed something they've considered a big NO NO, assuming that you've already initiated some apologies to them or to the "misunderstanding" of the situation!

[1F409]

I'm not going to conceal my identity or otherwise scurry around in the shadows hoping not to incur their wrath. It would be quite the other way around, in fact. If, for example, they intended to hold the documents hostage from the public, then I might consider cracking a few skulls to liberate the papers, in order to scan and upload them to the Internet.

Let them curate the originals, fine; but they must either provide scans for the public to use, or get the heck out of the way and let others do so. If it's a manpower issue, I'm sure there would be volunteers willing to set up a high-res camera to speedily capture the essential contents of the documents, regardless of what condition or (dis)order they're in.

[1F409]

I'd just like to add that I don't have any solid proof. As much as it feels like a conspiracy against me, personally, the possibility exists that this is just a perfect storm of them overlooking my e-mail, bad timing with the plan-demic, and perhaps degradation of the customer service ethic (as fallout from everybody suddenly being able to contact anybody, free from long distance charges). Still, the fact than they made no effort to solve the IP banning issue once I managed to report it, and then it miraculously happened here, too, right after I began posting the same content....

[1F409]

Somebody's trying to make a monkey of me. Today, I have access to the Swords of REH forum. Funny, how I was blocked for over a year and nobody cared, but the moment I started slinging public accusations toward the REH Foundation, the next day my access was restored. It's the darndest coincidence, almost as if they were trying to discredit me!

Please weigh on in this amazing turn of events. I would like to read whether anyone else finds this a little too convenient.

[Mechanizor]

Somebody's trying to make a monkey of me. Today, I have access to the Swords of REH forum. Funny, how I was blocked for over a year and nobody cared, but the moment I started slinging public accusations toward the REH Foundation, the next day my access was restored. It's the darndest coincidence, almost as if they were trying to discredit me!

Please weigh on in this amazing turn of events. I would like to read whether anyone else finds this a little too convenient.

Maybe just maybe; they finally got to your memo/inquiry and saw nothing was justifying your IP banning!?

Hopefully you don't have to complain about another IP banning in places like this for a while...

[1F409]

And now I'm blocked again at Swords of REH. One login; no posts or comments or PMs made; blocked.

[Mechanizor]

Hmm, this is actually theatrical in a way...

[1F409]

Yeah, and I'm apparently the trained monkey dancing for a peanut.

[Mechanizor]

> Hoo Hoo Hoo, I'm no monkey, I'm KING KONG!<

You have the choice either to quit, or fight it; if you think it's worth your time and energy...

On a side note, I don't know if they have any legal grounds surrounding those documents you're seeking, or suspicious of your intent!

Either way, you always can consult with some lawyers' online platforms and see what they have to say if things are still stagnant.