To All Members But Especially Those From India

As you may have noticed, in the past 6-8 weeks, there has been a small increase in people posting messages, purely to "illegally" promote supplements, and other fitness related products.

During this time, I have deleted and given Admin the I.P.'s for banning, but it has become apparent, that many of the site "misusers" are using the Airtelbroadband network in India.

As a result, I feel I have no choice, but to help the Admin to ban that network. It is simple and easy for me to trace the Network I.P's, and simple enough for Admin to ban every single one, but that means anybody using that network, shouldn't be able to access the forum anymore after that network is banned.

Therefore I am giving all "legitimate" forum users that use Airtelbroadband servers to post, two weeks to get alternative internet access, or to start using alternative internet providers, to keep accessing the forum.

If anyone here knows any Fittracker members, on the Airtelbroadband network, make them aware, they will probably still be able to access Fittracker, but not the forum, when the Airtebroadband network gets banned.

I am doing this to protect all good members from such illegal links, and the possible risk to their computer safety, accessing or accidentally accessing such illegally promoted sites might cause.

I am sorry to all "legitimate" members on Airtelbroadband, who post here and respect the Terms Of Service agreement. You are great members, and appreciated, but if you have issues with this action, I suggest you either take appropriate steps with other providers, as I outlined above, or you take issue with Airtelbroadband, for allowing too many spammers to use their services. This is their fault that I am taking this action to protect all good forum members, and not my fault.

Administrators and people like me, don't let spammers come and abuse sites like this, network providers do.

Many thanks for reading and hopefully those of you here to be a "real" part of the community, continue to come back and are able enjoy the whole of the site .

Bossman

Hi bossman,

I am currently residing in India and using Airtel Broadband. you can assume me as a legitimate user.
But as you can see that I am able to use the forum, I am not sure how you have banned the network. Apart from this it is much easier to switch the service provider for illegal user than a legal one. I understand your situation here but blocking the biggest network from India is not a solution.
Can you try to find any other alternative like keyword block or try to seek help from google guys as they have a good database of illegal users.

Thanks,
Vineet

It hasn't been banned yet the Network, but just adding an I.P. block would do it. all the I.P's formatted into one small string. Admin can't block keywords, only censor certain words that might be used, thereby invalidating spam links, when those words are added as part of a link, and just today, someone using that network posted a spammy type message again.

I appreciate your comments, and I'm sorry, but as a moderator I can only give Admin I.P's, I have no ability to block or ban users here, or set access rights.

I will consider things again though, and see what might be possible.

Appreciate your comments.

Hello, I am new to these forums, however I know what is going on and know what you mean.

I personally think this is unfair to the all the legitimate users, therefore I think that is just not fair. One way to stop this would be to introduce and Advertising section in the forums where people can post there items and websites.

This would stop people from posting them anywhere on the forum.

I appreciate your comments.

I decided in the end not to do this. Not for reasons you stated, but because I felt it might not be an optimal solution.

Also, from observations on other places I've browsed before, advertising sections as you put it, would not work.

Spamming is not legal, and some people on sites with a facility you describe, still post 1-2 times in other board sections, or basically flout the rules anyway.

If such people want to post on those sites, in an illegal way, having a controlled area is not only promoting cyber crime, (irrespective of some legitimate promoting), but not a total deterrant, for those who give 0% regard for anyones rules.

Incidentally. Since this post was put here by me, around another 8-10 spamming, Airtelbroadband IP users, (at least), have posted here again.

They have been banned singularly. Though owing to the one or two legitimate members on that network, that come here, I didn't facilitate a total ban of that network, much as though I'd like to, as it would have completely baulked those incidences from happening.

I would say though, that your comments about such a ban being unfair, might be objective, but what is unfair is people on that network, doing illegal things, and forcing people like me, to consider such actions, that may affect 1 or 2 good users of said network.

They are the unfair ones. As their actions might hurt legit members on that network, if other sites adopt low tolerance attitudes like Shapefit does, but sometimes if I need to protect the majority of site users, from a small percentage of illegal posts, some of which are adult in nature, or pose a risk to peoples internet security, it might be harsh if it blocks one legit user now or in the future, but I'm sure you'd agree, sometimes I wouldn't like to exclude one or two good members, on a very illegally used network, but it could have to be like that, for the good of hundreds of other good users from across the world.

Thanks for your feedback, and as I said, my original plans weren't implemented.

Hi,

I agree with the users here, I love this site and the forums and I use Airtel broadband network to access this, for me to switch my service provider is not something i would want to do because trust me if i have to join the shitty Giverment owned network I might as well stop going online(I am sure alot of people reading this know of the pains we face with MTNL). I also agree that spaming is bad but just because a few wan@e$rs do this , we the good users should not be banned.

thanks