Yahoo message board problem

[badass]

Oh yeah, the did have an "outage". Sacking their CEO hasn't helped anything yet. Oh well, removing the "Resolved", further suggestions from the readership on getting Yahoo's attention or otherwise resolving the problem needed.

I'm not sure what DSN abuse is but my posts on Yahoo message boards are being blocked, but not by Yahoo. I can post with my Yahoo account on the library computers but at home on my regular computer I can't post. Also recently they (somebody) disabled my thumbs up on the posts. Also I can't even scroll down the comments to see what others are saying.

It seems that somebody doesn't want me to post in certain political topics.

Can anybody direct me in the right area?

Regards,

Peter

[turetzsr]

Hi, Peter,

<snip>

my posts on Yahoo message boards are being blocked, but not by Yahoo. I can post with my Yahoo account on the library computers but at home on my regular computer I can't post.

<snip>

...Perhaps your home ISP is blocking you?

...Could you say a bit more about the symptoms? Can you compose a post by entering text into the message board text box or can you not enter text or can you not even bring up the form that contains the text box? Are you able to get as far as composing your post but then can not submit? Can you submit but get an error message or submit but nothing happens? What operating system is in use at the library and at home? What web browser and version at the library and at home? Do you have a firewall on your home PC? Is there a popup blocker or scri_pt blocker at home? Are cookies blocked at home? Have you tried searching with a Search Engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc) to search for posts by others who have had this problem?

[badass]

Hi, Peter,...Perhaps your home ISP is blocking you?

...Could you say a bit more about the symptoms? Can you compose a post by entering text into the message board text box or can you not enter text or can you not even bring up the form that contains the text box? Are you able to get as far as composing your post but then can not submit? Can you submit but get an error message or submit but nothing happens? What operating system is in use at the library and at home? What web browser and version at the library and at home? Do you have a firewall on your home PC? Is there a popup blocker or scri_pt blocker at home? Are cookies blocked at home? Have you tried searching with a Search Engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc) to search for posts by others who have had this problem?

It started at home on my computer. I was on the Yahoo BB posting. The first couple of days it was 50/50 whether it would block my post. The next couple of days on a popular topic it would say there was 0 comments when I was logged on. After I logged off all the comments would show up after I selected the news item again My posts never made it. Now I only see about 6 comments on the news items and it doesn't let me scroll down to see the rest of the comments. If I try to thumb up a post (logged on) the symbol just spins around and nothing happens. I can write the message of the post but when I hit post nothing happens.

The funny thing was in the beginning it would selectively not let me post on any topic dealing with Israel or the Palestinians, Iran, Lebanon, etc. but it would let me post on off topics like local news not related to the Mid East. Like I said now I can't post on anything with Yahoo except for the library computers.

Yahoo sent me a message at about the same time all this started happening that my password was compromised so I changed it.

I have Maleware software but that never was a problem before. I tried deleting all my cookies but that didn't work to solve the problem either

Regards,

Larry

Hi, Peter,...Perhaps your home ISP is blocking you?

...Could you say a bit more about the symptoms? Can you compose a post by entering text into the message board text box or can you not enter text or can you not even bring up the form that contains the text box? Are you able to get as far as composing your post but then can not submit? Can you submit but get an error message or submit but nothing happens? What operating system is in use at the library and at home? What web browser and version at the library and at home? Do you have a firewall on your home PC? Is there a popup blocker or scri_pt blocker at home? Are cookies blocked at home? Have you tried searching with a Search Engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc) to search for posts by others who have had this problem?

Another thing I noticed is my IP address on my Yahoo account information has two different locations. My correct address is in CT. The other IP is coming from NY City.

Strange.

Regards,

Larry

[Geek]

Are you on a dynamic IP?

Maybe some loser/infected machine had the IP before you...

When I switched ISP's, first thing I had to do was request removal of my IP from every blacklist in existance >.<

Cheers!

[Farelf]

New topic created, O/P advised.

...Another thing I noticed is my IP address on my Yahoo account information has two different locations. My correct address is in CT. The other IP is coming from NY City. ...

Well, I can tell you you registered for this forum and both your posts above are from a dynamic IP address in NY state, as indicated by ARIN records.

I would expect Yahoo to do its own thing but I see no problems per stopforumspam.com in your email registration address or that NY IP address. Yes, the member name you use here has been "pinged" when used by a Canadian poster somewhere but I wouldn't think that alone should get you into trouble, even if that is the same you use in the Yahoo boards.

[badass]

New topic created, O/P advised.

Well, I can tell you you registered for this forum and both your posts above are from a dynamic IP address in NY state, as indicated by ARIN records.

I would expect Yahoo to do its own thing but I see no problems per stopforumspam.com in your email registration address or that NY IP address. Yes, the member name you use here has been "pinged" when used by a Canadian poster somewhere but I wouldn't think that alone should get you into trouble, even if that is the same you use in the Yahoo boards.

By dynamic IP address does that mean my IP address is constantly changing? Also how do I find out if my IP provider is blocking my messages?

Again, I am located in the middle of CT on the coast, not in NY city. How does my IP address track to NYC if I am in CT?

Regards,

Larry

[Farelf]

A dynamically-allocated IP address is liable to change - whether or not it actually does change in the short-term will depend on a number of factors, mostly concerned with the network you use or if you disconnect from your network for more than a few minutes. Most of us have dynamic IPs. My own, according to the Windows "Internet Connection Status" dialog box, has been allocated (to me) now for almost 16 days straight - which is close to a record for me with my provider in recent times (my router is left connected on-line).

IP address geolocation is a bit of an arcane science and may give quite different results to those of the owner address record in APNIC which is all I looked at. Try a geolocation tool like http://www.ip2location.com/demo.aspx if you have concerns. I don't think it will matter much.

It is hard to conceive that your service provider would block (some of) your posts to a message board, not if it is a public provider anyway. You're the customer, you have legitimate service expectations, you should feel free to ask them outright whether they are or they are not doing that so as to eliminate (or confirm) that possibility. Your own PC (a security, site trust or parental control setting somewhere) or Yahoo (under quite limited circumstances - say breaches of board rules or etiquette) would be more likely suspects given the apparently variable nature of it, I should think.

Sometimes you will get little glitches (say when auto updates are downloading in the background) that coincidentally look to be sinister, but those are only momentary and I guess this has been bugging you for a while now?

[badass]

A dynamically-allocated IP address is liable to change - whether or not it actually does change in the short-term will depend on a number of factors, mostly concerned with the network you use or if you disconnect from your network for more than a few minutes. Most of us have dynamic IPs. My own, according to the Windows "Internet Connection Status" dialog box, has been allocated (to me) now for almost 16 days straight - which is close to a record for me with my provider in recent times (my router is left connected on-line).

IP address geolocation is a bit of an arcane science and may give quite different results to those of the owner address record in APNIC which is all I looked at. Try a geolocation tool like http://www.ip2location.com/demo.aspx if you have concerns. I don't think it will matter much.

It is hard to conceive that your service provider would block (some of) your posts to a message board, not if it is a public provider anyway. You're the customer, you have legitimate service expectations, you should feel free to ask them outright whether they are or they are not doing that so as to eliminate (or confirm) that possibility. Your own PC (a security, site trust or parental control setting somewhere) or Yahoo (under quite limited circumstances - say breaches of board rules or etiquette) would be more likely suspects given the apparently variable nature of it, I should think.

Sometimes you will get little glitches (say when auto updates are downloading in the background) that coincidentally look to be sinister, but those are only momentary and I guess this has been bugging you for a while now?

These aren't glicthes or coincidental. I believe this is a deliberate attempt to silence me for my political views. Yahoo hasn't censored me so who is? I just want to know how to get around it or fix the problem on my computer. I'm not educated in the IT end of things so I don't really know where to begin.

I will ask my IP provider if they are blocking my post as you suggested.

Regards,

Larry

[Farelf]

These aren't glicthes or coincidental. I believe this is a deliberate attempt to silence me for my political views. Yahoo hasn't censored me so who is? ...

I have to run through the following since you haven't given detail about Yahoo's non-censorship. Your evidence for this, I assume, is they have active moderators who seem always to leave notes if they delete or alter posts. Some (probably most) forums-bulletin boards will also use IP tables (as does this forum) or other banning lists which don't provide those visible clues (but the effect is, as a minimum, to prevent logging in). Alternatively or in addition, moderator toolsets may restrict posts by hiding them as they are made or preventing them from being made, subject to eventual manual review by moderators (as can this forum), it is good etiquette to alert the poster but that may not be automatic. Some boards (including this one) require log-in with certain user privileges in order to see "all" the content.

If the Yahoo board administrator or super moderator has told you your posts are not censored then you know it is so - otherwise (even on moderator say-so) it is not so certain. Even if there is no moderator or administrator action then the board administrator should be able to see what is happening with your account - as demonstrated by the alert that it might be compromised. You need to check with Yahoo to confirm they are no longer seeing suspicious activity - if changing your password didn't "fix" it, they mightn't necessarily keep warning you.

(This asking for help business is a bit like the Johari window model - you have to reveal more than you might think before the feedback is useful.)

.... I just want to know how to get around it or fix the problem on my computer. I'm not educated in the IT end of things so I don't really know where to begin.

I will ask my IP provider if they are blocking my post as you suggested.

That's a good start Larry. Then, all else failing, it is back to your PC and the possibility of keyloggers, remote access, identity theft (the "Peter"-"Larry" sign-offs are a little ironic in that context) and all the rest. No single anti-virus and anti-malware application is guaranteed to keep all the badness at bay or to reveal all there might be if it has got in (adopting the most paranoid approach, which is usually excessive). But then you need specialised advice - I'm sure we have members here who are capable but whether they see this and are willing to advise is another matter. But we're not at that stage yet, from what can be seen so far. (Member petzl often advises posters to work through the security links in his signature for some self-help as an intermediate step which could be good enough, if you're lucky enough, if it does go that far - find any of his posts to see those links).

It would be tempting to suggest simply trying a different browser but I can't really advocate that with any conviction as a solution in your case. I use three different browsers (IE 8, Firefox 7.0.1 and SeaMonkey 2.4.1), each with different "paranoia" settings but I have to say I have never yet used a bulletin board where any one of them will not function. The boards look different sometimes (scripting, flash and remote image factors) but they always seem to work well enough to log in, to view and to post. "Your mileage may vary."

[badass]

I have to run through the following since you haven't given detail about Yahoo's non-censorship. Your evidence for this, I assume, is they have active moderators who seem always to leave notes if they delete or alter posts. Some (probably most) forums-bulletin boards will also use IP tables (as does this forum) or other banning lists which don't provide those visible clues (but the effect is, as a minimum, to prevent logging in). Alternatively or in addition, moderator toolsets may restrict posts by hiding them as they are made or preventing them from being made, subject to eventual manual review by moderators (as can this forum), it is good etiquette to alert the poster but that may not be automatic. Some boards (including this one) require log-in with certain user privileges in order to see "all" the content.

If the Yahoo board administrator or super moderator has told you your posts are not censored then you know it is so - otherwise (even on moderator say-so) it is not so certain. Even if there is no moderator or administrator action then the board administrator should be able to see what is happening with your account - as demonstrated by the alert that it might be compromised. You need to check with Yahoo to confirm they are no longer seeing suspicious activity - if changing your password didn't "fix" it, they mightn't necessarily keep warning you.

(This asking for help business is a bit like the Johari window model - you have to reveal more than you might think before the feedback is useful.)That's a good start Larry. Then, all else failing, it is back to your PC and the possibility of keyloggers, remote access, identity theft (the "Peter"-"Larry" sign-offs are a little ironic in that context) and all the rest. No single anti-virus and anti-malware application is guaranteed to keep all the badness at bay or to reveal all there might be if it has got in (adopting the most paranoid approach, which is usually excessive). But then you need specialised advice - I'm sure we have members here who are capable but whether they see this and are willing to advise is another matter. But we're not at that stage yet, from what can be seen so far. (Member petzl often advises posters to work through the security links in his signature for some self-help as an intermediate step which could be good enough, if you're lucky enough, if it does go that far - find any of his posts to see those links).

It would be tempting to suggest simply trying a different browser but I can't really advocate that with any conviction as a solution in your case. I use three different browsers (IE 8, Firefox 7.0.1 and SeaMonkey 2.4.1), each with different "paranoia" settings but I have to say I have never yet used a bulletin board where any one of them will not function. The boards look different sometimes (scripting, flash and remote image factors) but they always seem to work well enough to log in, to view and to post. "Your mileage may vary."

I willl go over your recommendations to see if anything helps. In regard to my name Peter/Larry, I thought I could create another yahoo identity to get around the problem, but it didn't help. My real name is Larry.

In this day of media deception and censorship I feel almost certainly that I am being blocked by the politically correct forces that rule our country who will not tolerate any dissention and not by Yahoo (lthough they have been known to pull posts individually) I don't think anyone would argue that point anymore in this stage of the game. Thanks for all your time.

Regards,

Larry

[Farelf]

...Thanks for all your time.

You're welcome Larry. In my observation, the "authorities" are unlikely to take clandestine/undercover/covert action against the dissenting individual. What they mostly do is far worse, they ignore you. Perhaps there are exceptions - though really one first needs to contort the absence of evidence as evidence in itself to accept that - even then, what are odds?

I signed in to have a look at the message boards. I didn't see the thumbs up/down "like/dislike" buttons against posts anywhere either, just the star-rating facility. In the short interval before I lost the will to live, I came to the tentative conclusion that, if you still can't, you are probably sacrificing very little by not being able to post there. I also noted the "report abuse" link and wonder if that's sometimes misused to limit unpopular posts/posters.

Are there really people there you would want to influence? Do they have the attention spans and logical thought processes actually capable of absorbing any information or of being influenced by argument? Of course I subjected myself to the full gamut - no filters, all posts (1 star + unrated). It could be a lot different at the 5 star rating level - but there is too little at that level to reliably survey . Seems to me it is graffiti-level, good for little more than trolling and then capable only of re-affirming the existing prejudices of the readership.

But that's just me - to each his own and good luck if that's where you want to be. Will be interested in your progress.

[badass]

You're welcome Larry. In my observation, the "authorities" are unlikely to take clandestine/undercover/covert action against the dissenting individual. What they mostly do is far worse, they ignore you. Perhaps there are exceptions - though really one first needs to contort the absence of evidence as evidence in itself to accept that - even then, what are odds?

I signed in to have a look at the message boards. I didn't see the thumbs up/down "like/dislike" buttons against posts anywhere either, just the star-rating facility. In the short interval before I lost the will to live, I came to the tentative conclusion that, if you still can't, you are probably sacrificing very little by not being able to post there. I also noted the "report abuse" link and wonder if that's sometimes misused to limit unpopular posts/posters.

Are there really people there you would want to influence? Do they have the attention spans and logical thought processes actually capable of absorbing any information or of being influenced by argument? Of course I subjected myself to the full gamut - no filters, all posts (1 star + unrated). It could be a lot different at the 5 star rating level - but there is too little at that level to reliably survey . Seems to me it is graffiti-level, good for little more than trolling and then capable only of re-affirming the existing prejudices of the readership.

But that's just me - to each his own and good luck if that's where you want to be. Will be interested in your progress.

Farelf, perhaps you're right about the level of intelligence of yahoo posters although I see some excellent posts now and then that don't get rated positively precisely because they are on the mark. I believe a lot of posters fall under the category of spam or disinfo for the purpose of distrupting the argument. It's called "hasbara" (propaganda). Still it's better to try to try to spread the truth rather than do nothing. I fear we will be going to war against Iran in the near future no matter how flimsy the evidence nor if the vast majority of the public is against it just like Iraq, Afghanistan,etc. ( a total of 7 countries now we are at war)

Regards,

Larry