Banned members on AOL

[Troy]

I know we have many users on AOL and you may have been seeing some strange things over the last couple of days. It is possible that you get a message indicating that you've been banned from the site - this is incorrect. The short explanation is that AOL uses proxy servers to decrease their bandwidth and (supposedly) to speed up your browsing experience. A proxy server is a machine sitting on the internet that goes to web sites and stores a copy of them. When many users request the same page the proxy server responds to them with its copy instead of making a bunch of individual trips to the web site. When a site requires a login this procedure is supposed to be bypassed but, apparently, AOL feels otherwise. One of their proxy servers has managed to cache (store) something that it shouldn't have which makes it appear that legitimate users are banned. I sincerely apologize and I'm trying my best to get it sorted out.

Troy

[69_500]

Hmmmm, I was hoping that it was true. Just kidding.

AOL members are temporarily getting the shaft though huh? Good thing I switched from AOL about 4 years ago then.

[Troy]

Not all, it will seem random. As of yesterday I could count at least 38 members that were affected. As far as I'm concerned, AOL is a virus.

Troy

[Wheels of Terror]

"AOL is a virus." Agreed!!!!

[TruckDriver]

As far as I'm concerned, AOL is a virus.

Troy

There is a local computer expert near me that publicly said that same thing over the radio one day when they had him on.

[Big Lebowski]

I didn't get banned, but I figured it's because you guys can't live without me.

[Troy]

Seriously, the only way to remove their software is to reinstall the OS. It manages to weave itself into every tiny part of Windows (for no apparent reason) and does not actually remove anything when you try to uninstall it. As if the computer doesn't already try to do everything for the user now the ISP is trying to compete. For goodness sakes, all it needs to do is dial!

Apparently this is not the only site with this problem. I tried to do a search for a cure on the help/support forum and came across 28 pages of threads regarding AOL and banned users. There doesn't seem to be a fix without contacting AOL (like their useless tech support would help any way). I was surprised at the number of people who suggested blocking ALL connections from AOL. It doesn't seem very promising.

Troy

[69_500]

Well I don't know about blocking all AOL users. I can say this in the 3 years I used their service I never really was that satisfied with them. Heck now that I think of it, I might have AOL for even longer than that.I can't really think back that far now.

[Stentboy]

Why am I only "banned" from posting on some threads but not others, and when will this matter be resolved?

[Troy]

As I said above, it will seem totally random. Which thread you choose has nothing to do with whether or not you'll get the "banned" message.

Here's a more in depth description of the problem:
When a user connects to the internet through AOL they really aren't connecting to the internet in the same sense as most other people. They are connecting to "proxy" servers owned by AOL which then connect to the internet. These servers are what connects to the server that this site is on. The first person requesting a page from a particular web site will cause the proxy server to request the page from the web site, store it, and then pass it on to the user. The next person who requests the same page will get the one that AOL stored. Every person on AOL does not have their own proxy server of course but, by the same token, AOL needs many servers to handle all of their users. Here's the important part: In order to keep one proxy server from doing all the work, the load is distributed by using a round robin approach. If only one user is online then the first page the request goes to the first proxy server, the second page request to the second server, and on and on. If one of these proxy servers gets flagged as banned or caches (stores) a banned page or user session then every person who requests a page through that proxy server will show up as banned. This is because, technically, the proxy server itself is banned - not all the users behind it (even though they see the message). When an AOL user connects to this site they will use as many as 10-15 different proxy servers so that means every 1 out of 10 times they'll get the "banned" message. If two or more people are using AOL to connect to the site then it may be as many as 1 out of 3 or possibly never depending on how their requests fit into the round robin queue.

I have have tried several different approaches on my end but none are working. I have tried contacting AOL to get them to reset the cached pages but I can't manage to get any response (probably because I'm not a customer). If anyone with an AOL account wants to contact their tech support then please tell them the proxy server with the problem is "152.163.101.13". If they can reset it, clear the cookies, forward to another proxy, or whatever I would greatly appreciate it. My only other option is to block that particular server completely until the cache clears out on its own. Instead of getting a banned message you'll get a "Page not found" message.

Now that this has become a HUGE freaking headache for me and many of you, I'll be more than happy to tell you who is responsible. Please contact Mike at Dayclona or PM "Winga" here on the site and tell him how much you appreciate what he's done.

Troy

[Brock Samson]

Thank You Troy!   

     

[moparguy01]

People still use AOL?

I feel like i just went in a time warp to the early 90's......

[Big Lebowski]

 I just clicked on as a guest & had to find my password to log on? But no ban mention.

[road/track]

Seriously, the only way to remove their software is to reinstall the OS. It manages to weave itself into every tiny part of Windows (for no apparent reason) and does not actually remove anything when you try to uninstall it. As if the computer doesn't already try to do everything for the user now the ISP is trying to compete. For goodness sakes, all it needs to do is dial!

Apparently this is not the only site with this problem. I tried to do a search for a cure on the help/support forum and came across 28 pages of threads regarding AOL and banned users. There doesn't seem to be a fix without contacting AOL (like their useless tech support would help any way). I was surprised at the number of people who suggested blocking ALL connections from AOL. It doesn't seem very promising.

Troy

It was equal hard to terminate the internet service (also many years ago)

[Steve P.]

I don't know why but I just had trouble logging onto the site as well and I am NOT an AOL user..  Seams like everything is becoming a pain in the ass lately.. 

Thanks for busting your ass as usual Troy..   I hope it comes out in the wash soon without too much scrubbing..

[Troy]

I don't know why but I just had trouble logging onto the site as well and I am NOT an AOL user..  Seams like everything is becoming a pain in the ass lately.. 

Thanks for busting your ass as usual Troy..   I hope it comes out in the wash soon without too much scrubbing..

That's cuz I was making a quick change to something when you did it. I guess I wasn't fast enough.

Troy

[Steve P.]

What matters is that I got on...     You are Da' Man Troy.  I don't understand the in's and out's of the internet. Sure glad you get it and have provided us all with this site..

Again, you are Da' Man...........   

[Brock Samson]

Troy wrote:

"Now that this has become a HUGE freaking headache for me and many of you, I'll be more than happy to tell you who is responsible. Please contact Mike at Dayclona or PM "Winga" here on the site and tell him how much you appreciate what he's done."


so, was this done purposely by winga and/or dayclona?..   

[Troy]

No. He likes to switch ISPs whenever he gets banned to see if he can bypass it. Unfortunately, AOL cached his information while a bunch of people were online using the same proxy server and it banned them all. Normally he connects with Verizon but bombards the site from everywhere he can when he gets caught acting like an ass.

Troy

[69_500]

Hmmmm, so that was the culprit. So how did he get banned this time? I don't recall anything that he said being nearly as offensive as what some others say? Or did I miss something this time?

[Ghoste]

Maybe for causing (one of) Troy's headache(s)?

[hemigeno]

So how did he get banned this time?

He was never "unbanned".  Unfortunately, this is not the first time Troy has had this particular headache with this particular individual either.

[69_500]

Ah I see. I thought maybe they had been allowed back. Guess I was reading more into it. If they were still banned then its s completely different issue.

[1968 Charger B5]

Wow cant believe he is responsible, i have never met the guy, but for someone who is into Mopars so much I doubt it was on purpose...

[Troy]

Wow cant believe he is responsible, i have never met the guy, but for someone who is into Mopars so much I doubt it was on purpose...

He didn't get over 100 people banned on purpose I'm sure - it's a side effect of trying to break the rules to satisfy his own self-importance. Unfortunately, other people were affected this time so instead of just being a rude and annoying jackass he's causing all sorts of problems for a lot of other people. I am generally an easy-going guy and I'm fairly lenient when it comes to this site but the second an individual's actions directly impact others I tend to lose all respect and sympathy. Typically just having multiple accounts is grounds for being banned - he has seven at the moment. I have found that just being into Mopars really has no relationship to how you treat others.

Troy

[dukeboy_318]

Just out of curiousity, I can't seem to be able to reply to any of the for sale threads and IM not and an AOL user,  is this a problem with comcast users aswell?

[Troy]

Just out of curiousity, I can't seem to be able to reply to any of the for sale threads and IM not and an AOL user,  is this a problem with comcast users aswell?

Nope, that's the way it is supposed to work. Unfortunately, the few have screwed it up for the many and I had to lock down the classifieds. You (meaning everyone but the seller) cannot respond to any ads. There is a much longer explanation in the Help section.

Troy

[SeattleCharger]

Never download any AOL product of any kind into your computer.   The files will go down deep inside files, virtually hidden, and are very difficult to remove and they invariable mess things up.  AOL is a virus, and avoid any AOL thing of any kind like a plague to your computer, because basically, it really is. 

[quapman]

I still use AOL (mostly to host pictures), but it really should be renamed SOL !!

[draftingmonkey]

AOL = "America OFF Line"