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T O P I C R E V I E W
Ten Driver
Posted - November 04 2009 : 2:35:41 PM Hello,
I spend a lot of time on the road and I've frequently encountered a problem when trying to access the site from hotel computers.
These computers typically use some kind of filtering and blocking software to prevent users from going places that the management doesn't want them to. Almost everywhere I go, this kind of software blocks access to the site.
At first I thought it might be because of the firearms focus, but that's not the case. I can easily access just about any firearms-related material on these computers. Instead, the software is blocking access to the site due to perceived "sexual content." The software claims the site is connected to a long list of sexually-related prohibited items and it won't allow access.
Now, we all know that there is nothing of the sort that goes on here, so why would this be happening? Although I wouldn't agree with it, I could understand how the software would block access due to firearms-related material, but there's nothing pornographic going on here, so why would the filter suspect its presence? Any ideas?
V/r Mike
6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Matt Marshall
Posted - November 06 2009 : 09:58:05 AM I'm certain the filtering is due to the Ben Dare incident. Around the beginning of September a formerly active forum member, by the username of Ben Dare had his account compromised and a TON of porn and general junk ads were posted to the forums.
Since you do not have to be registered to read the forums, but do need to be registered to post to the forums, this would (and probably did) result in some of that sexual content (which has since been removed) to be indexed by search engines, content filters, etc.
Unfortunately, these indexes and filters are maintained by organizations and individuals around the world. The only realistic option we now have is for individuals, like yourself, who are not able to get past content filters to contact those who manage the filters and ask them to remove stoppingpower.net from the list, or for our listings in those filters and search indexes to expire and default back to a normal status, where we are not flagged as hosting sexually explicit content.
enidpd804
Posted - November 05 2009 : 7:18:33 PM Sure thing. I can't change my address on the site but my new one is enidpd804@yahoo.com.
Mark Marshall
Posted - November 05 2009 : 6:35:02 PM I'll talk to Matt about all of this, especially your comment enidpd804. He might have some follow up questions for your service on the Blackberry as that is not something we want even remotely associated with this site.
Ace
Posted - November 04 2009 : 8:11:22 PM Just a thought, but would it be possible for some virulently anti-gun person or group to connect the site somehow to some porn stuff, as a nuisance or a way to impede access? Or should I take off the tin-foil hat, sit in the corner, and let the grown-ups talk? Ace
enidpd804
Posted - November 04 2009 : 6:33:46 PM I've never had that problem but when I access the site on my Blackberry, I get a bunch of adult ads.
garrettwc
Posted - November 04 2009 : 4:52:40 PM Ten driver, it may be related to the Ben Dare thread in the miscellaneous section. Somehow that may have shown up in the filtering software companies logs and they just added the IP address.
Or perhaps they are just making it up in an effort to not appear anti-gun to their customer base. Do you know the name of the software? Perhaps an email to their customer service department asking them to clarify it is in order.
