I'm going to bring up mieskie, which is something I didn't think I should do.

I think there were a few problems.

First of all, we were probably too quick to suspend him the first time, without talking to him. That's the kind of thing that needs review if/when we get to it. That needs to happen way before we consider moderator type stompies.

Second - for those of us to whom it was apparent that Schmoker=mieskie, it was incredibly frustrating that we decided the most Buffista way to handle the problem was to believe him. So the second problem was not whether or not we had stompies, or rules, or rule-enforcing stompies, but that we were impotent in proving what at least a fraction of us knew to be the truth. So then everything he did (to those of us who were convinced) looked like a wink and a taunt, whether it was or not.

Because I'm not technically inclined, I did not and still do not understand why we can't block the IP number of a suspended poster. I know that I was held up as an example, because there was a Bronze Beta troll who had the same IP number I did, and we don't want to inadvertantly block regular people when blocking trolls.

HOWEVER - and if I didn't state this at the time, I meant to - the Bronze Beta webmaster, Artie (artie@BronzeBeta.com) figured out a way to block that troll without blocking me. How come he can do it and we can't or won't?

There must be some way that Artie was able to discern between me and drlloyd, because he did. Would a technologista please consider contacting him, explaining the IP situation that is making us hesitant to block posters via IP number, reference that you heard Artie managed to block drlloyd11 and not block the person who had the same IP number displayed (Xanderella) and ask how he did it?

How about the Department of Homepage Security?

Not all users have fixed IP addresses, Cindy. Some ISPs randomly assign you an address when you dial in. Some users, if they're connecting from work, might have the same IP address as many of their co-workers. So we could end up blocking someone that shouldn't be blocked, and we might not effectively block someone who should be blocked. I've no idea what Artie did.

OK, when I said that, I had no idea about this. Honestly.

I've no idea what Artie did.

Neither do I. Maybe someone who understands it *cough*hiJon*cough* could ask him. That's all I'm saying. I don't expect we'll have to do it very often, if the Beta has only had to do it 3 times since 2001. I do think when someone does what mieskie did when he went to mmieskie and Michael or whatever, it might be worth doing, because that's exactly the type of person who is going to "pull a Schmoker" - is going to wait a week, come back, and wink (or appear to be winking).

If we block someone, and a Buffista in good standing is inadvertantly blocked, then that person can email us, and let us know, and we'll have to lift the block and try something else.

Apparently, I've lost any shred of the ability to grammarcize.

Cindy, you need some more edumacation.

Not thinking about specific issues till we have a discussion thread. I'll filibuster with silliness if I have to!!

Maybe someone who understands it *cough*hiJon*cough* could ask him.

If you have contact info for the guy, I'll write to him and ask.

It was in the post where I mentioned it Jon. Artie@BronzeBeta.com

UM-- not to be dogmatic-- but are we discussing a proposal, and if so which one? Gar's or bitterchicks or Nutty's. Or should someone make one. because otherwise, i think the discussion belongs in here.