Banning guests on a public forum

[Please Register and Login to this forum to stop seeing this advertsing.]

[daddyo7]

Hello, I wasn't sure where to post this. I saw similar subjects, but none addressing my specific question; I apologize if I overlooked it.

My question is whether it is within the terms and conditions and a legitmate action for a public forum, that is, it is available by search engines and viewable without joining, to begin banning 'guests' by IP address who have not joined or posted, or if that is an abuse of an Internet Service Provider? It does seem odd to me that a forum would choose to be 'public', but then selectively ban 'guests' who have done nothing but view their forum. I hope my question is clear and I look forward to your response. Thank you very much.

[the_punisher_kid]

That is a little wierd. Though google you cannot ban (believe me I've tried). Though I don't see why they would want to make it public if they just go banning IP addresses. Do you have a link to this site? Also is it a MFF forum?
_________________

[admin (no pm's please)]

Chances are someone has banned by IP and ended up banning a complete proxy server or dynamic IP and hence some guests see themselves as banned even though they have done nothing.
_________________

Family Friendly Shareware | | Web Design/Services | Free Forums

[daddyo7]

Thank you for your reply, the_punisher_kid, I agree with you, it seems self-defeating to have a publicly searchable and viewable forum if you are going to 'ban' guests, and yes, it is a myfreeforum board. What I am trying to determine is whether this is against the rules or possibly an abuse of Internet Service Providers, since I would imagine (however I don't know for sure) that when an IP is banned, the ISP is notified. I am not certain of that last point, I am really trying to find out if this is a legitimate, allowed action by My Free Forums, for one of their boards to do this.

[daddyo7]

Thank you admin, is it within the terms and conditions to ban a specific guest's IP when they have done nothing and it is a public, searchable, viewable forum? I apologize, I didn't see the note above about posting a link, the forum is http://penny.myfreeforum.org

Also, the_punisher_kid, I did not understand your comment about not being able to ban google, could you explain what you meant? I am sorry that I didn't follow you there.

Thank you very much, I look forward to clarification by both of you and appreciate your prompt responses.

[admin (no pm's please)]

[Bravo]

I've heard of this before when people have banned subdomain IP's and even cases of people banning themselves!
_________________
CG Arts for free Banners, headers, logo's, signatures and avatars.

[admin (no pm's please)]

I have considered removing the ability to ban by ip entirely, it is more often than not misused But to remove the ability would be overstepping the mark in terms of "nannying" forum admins. We have loads and load of people who do know enough to use this facility wisely and we should not reduce their ability to secure their forums.
_________________

Family Friendly Shareware | | Web Design/Services | Free Forums

[CodyT07]

I think the punisher kid meant he baned google's advert ip at one time. Also seems though you cant ban by IP on some ISPs aol especially. as each page i visit my IP cahnges by 1 number or all the numbers.
_________________
"Great minds talk about ideas, mediocre minds talk about current events, small minds talk about other peoples"

[the_punisher_kid]

[admin (no pm's please)]

We protect google bot ips against banning. This is for obvious reasons.

---

_________________

Family Friendly Shareware | | Web Design/Services | Free Forums