WTF RPG.net?

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 3:29 am

I followed a link from google... or duckduckgo, which ever, to RPG.net and landed on a page that banned my IP. Now all I get is 503 errors when trying to access the site. (It loads from a mobile connection)

Anyone else ever have this happen? O.o

darkmaster · Post by **darkmaster** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 3:41 am

Uh, no, but, changing your IP isn't overly difficult, you should be able to find a tutorial on line.

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 4:04 am

Your PC is trying to protect you from having to visit rpg.net

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 4:07 am

Koumei wrote:Your PC is trying to protect you from having to visit rpg.net

Haha, entirely possible.
That was possibly one of the weirdest things to happen to me on these here intertoobz.

darkmaster · Post by **darkmaster** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 4:18 am

It's possible the link caused your IP to interact with a part of the site you didn't have the permissions to view and that caused a protocol issue between the site and your computer.

schpeelah · Post by **schpeelah** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:16 am

I had a similar issue. Rpg.net appears to have IP-banned my uni's wi-fi access point. Try accessing the site from someplace else in meatspace.

darkmaster · Post by **darkmaster** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:33 am

Well, if you're at a university, there's a distinct possibility that someone in your uni got themselves IP banned.

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:12 pm

darkmaster wrote:It's possible the link caused your IP to interact with a part of the site you didn't have the permissions to view and that caused a protocol issue between the site and your computer.

That's what I was guessing, too. But auto-banning an IP for following a publically available link is both heavy handed and stupid. (Par for the course I guess.)

If anyone cares, it was a link to a thread where someone was looking for LEGAL pdf copies of 2e. Sort of amusing.

Fwib · Post by **Fwib** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:59 pm

It is definitely your IP and not a cookie setting or something? You can't get through on another browser or after deleting the rpg.net cookies?

hyzmarca · Post by **hyzmarca** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:05 pm

503 error is apparantly their spam blocker.

That took me a quick google search to find out.

I would suggest trying a different browser, though you probably have already, just to make sure that it isn't your cache or cookies that are the problem.

If it isn't and you can still access the site from your phone, then post there.

If not, you might have to email ShannonA, who apparently handles this problem.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:22 pm

They have issues with sockpuppets so they tend to do IP blocks. It's a common and recurrent problem with their heavy-handed asshole mods.

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:15 pm

Ancient History wrote:They have issues with sockpuppets so they tend to do IP blocks. It's a common and recurrent problem with their heavy-handed asshole mods.

It's just weird because I don't have an account there, oviously wasn't logging in or posting, but just followed a link to their forum then BAM!

I'm sort of curious what the hell caused them to set up such a shitty filter.

@hyzmarca : Thanks, I may actually ask to be unblocked just because I randomly stumble on their stuff often enough for that to be annoying.

Occluded Sun · Post by **Occluded Sun** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:27 pm

codeGlaze wrote:But auto-banning an IP for following a publically available link is both heavy handed and stupid.

It's rpg.net-town, Jake.

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:05 am

Why do you visit RPG.net? What value do you get out of it? I sometimes post on there for D&D4e stuff and that's about it.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:18 am

OgreBattle wrote:Why do you visit RPG.net? What value do you get out of it? I sometimes post on there for D&D4e stuff and that's about it.

For my part it's stuff like the city built around the Tarrasque. There are a lot of pretty imaginative people over there, and sometimes the energy comes together and a neat idea pops out.

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:53 am

Would it not be easier just to get infinite monkeys with typewriters? Obviously not golden tamarin monkeys as they're too small to exert the necessary pressure on the keys.

Occluded Sun · Post by **Occluded Sun** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:30 pm

But they'd be smarter than most of the rpg.net posters and all of the staff. I think that's enough of an advantage to justify springing for touchscreens.

MGuy · Post by **MGuy** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:47 pm

What is the deal with Rpg.net exactly? Why bother going through all that to block people? Do they get a lot of spam or site attacks compared to other places?

Occluded Sun · Post by **Occluded Sun** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 11:07 pm

There are a whole lot of people who hate the site, and thus a whole lot of people who try to disrupt the site. And even more people who try to get around the erratic and mindless decisions of the people who supposedly police it.

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:01 am

Does RPG.net moderation lean towards LAW or CHAOS

Dogbert · Post by **Dogbert** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 12:59 am

Does Alice's Queen of Hearts and her court lean towards law or chaos?

Same answer.

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 1:51 am

RPG.net is TRUE ASSHOLE, and has been unwavering in their dedication to their worm-gods since the beginning.

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:26 pm

I've been a mod/admin for a forum before and I actually admin a few websites... IP banning is not normally something you have on auto-pilot.

@Ogre : I honestly don't post there, I just occasionally follow links in their direction.