Hi Winston,
Let me explain why I think your site is being blocked and a few ideas about how to get it unblocked or possible workaround solutions.
Thanks for the suggestion about the proxy. However, while that may get me past the block, I could still get in trouble if an image pops up.
Let me explain why I think the computer is now blocking your site.
1. R RATED versus X RATED
I was able to view your site from February of this year though April of this year. So therefore, something changed that has now caused your site to be flagged to be blocked. I think that the reason is that recently, some X-Rated posts have been added while before the images were all R-Rated. A woman in a bikini, and even a nude woman with her nipples and genitals covered, would probably be considered R-Rated and would not result in your site being blocked. Some of Jamesbond's avatars, for example, were R-Rated because the nipples were covered and they therefore didn't get the site blocked. However, recently some posters, such as odbo, have posted images that are X-Rated because the nipple shows or pubic hair shows. I think that this is the reason why the site is blocked. I think that if you just got rid of the X-Rated images in these 3 threads your site might be unblocked.
YOUR SITE WAS NOT BLOCKED JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
viewtopic.php?t=10696
viewtopic.php?t=10478
viewtopic.php?t=9719
If you edited these three threads, and instructed users to not post anything X-Rated (they can still post R-Rated stuff) in their posts or avatars, then I think that your site would eventually be unblocked as it was before. The site wasn't blocked even when Jamesbond had that dancing blonde probably because she covered her nipples.
Please understand that I'm not trying to be a prude. I just don't want to get in trouble with any laws. I wish the stupid laws didn't exist. If I use the proxy, I might get past the block. But if someone sees me and the thread I'm reading has an image that is X-Rated, I could get in trouble. Using a proxy to disable the blocking could get me in more trouble as they could say that I knew the site was X-Rated and used the proxy to disable it. I wouldn't have the defense of saying that I didn't know the site was X-Rated. Also, the browser won't let me disable the images.
"Well the problem is, there are probably thousands of nude photos in
thousands of posts, and there is no easy way to find them all either."
There really are only a few of X-Rated images. Most of the images are R-Rated. Getting rid of the ones in the three threads would probably make your site R-Rated instead of X-Rated.
2. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
I think that there are 3 possible solutions to this problem.
A. The easiest solution, and one that would work for me, would be for you to instruct users to put the capital letters "NSFW" in the title of any post that contains X-Rated images as odbo did in post 10696 and instruct users not to put X-Rated images in their avatars. You don't have to go back and get rid of the X-Rated images in the old posts because people usually only view recent threads and therefore there isn't much risk provided the problem is fixed going forward. I could just make sure not to click on any threads that started before July 1st, 2011. Then, users who don't want to risk legal problems from viewing X-Rated images can simply avoid clicking on any posts that have the letters "NSFW" in the title of the thread. While your site would still be blocked, at least I wouldn't get in trouble if I got past the block with the proxy because I'd know what threads to avoid clicking on.
B. Another solution would be to have a text only version of the website. Have a mirror site that draws from the same data that is text only.
http://www.text-only.info/
http://text-only.info/cgi-bin/textonly.pl
C. Another solution would be to give users instructions on the difference between R-Rated images and X-Rated images and simply insist that users not post any X-Rated images or have any X-Rated avatars. Just get rid of whatever images appeared in the last few months that got the site blocked and make sure no new X-Rated images appear and your site will probably be unblocked as it was in April. This is probably the best solution as it would allow more users to access the site. The NSFW solution would work for me but you would still have the problem of some users never getting to see your site in the first place. This solution would be best as more people could receive your important message.
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Answers to questions in your email.
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"Well the problem is, there are probably thousands of nude photos in
thousands of posts, and there is no easy way to find them all either.
Plus we are not sure that is the cause of your blockage. So it's not
practical for me to go in an remove them all."
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Yes, just fix it going forward and I think that would be ok. People rarely click on post more that a few weeks old.
There really are only a few of X-Rated images. Most of the images are
R-Rated. Getting rid of the ones in the three threads would probably
make your site R-Rated instead of X-Rated.
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"Can't you find
another way?"
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Trying to find another way. But:
A. I can't disable the images from the browser on the public machine. The settings are fixed.
B. I'm trying to save money for the eventual trip so the $300 or so that laptops at Walmart cost would set me back in my savings goals. I'm trying to limit expenses.
C. I don't want to get in legal trouble if I click on a thread and an X-Rated image pops up without my knowing. If it says NSFW in the thread, at least then I know not to click on it and can avoid legal trouble.
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"Are you using the computer from a library?"
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Yes. This is the cheapest way to surf the internet. I don't have to buy the computer or the internet connection.
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"You don't have a laptop with wifi?"
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I have a work laptop. But it is set up in such a way that my company can log in and see what I'm doing at any time without my knowledge. My work provides the computer and the internet connection. I'm not supposed to use it for anything that isn't work related.
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That is a good idea, and may get me past the block. But I still could get in trouble legally if someone sees an X-Rated image. So I have to have a way of knowing what not to click on with some indication in the title of the thread such as NSFW.
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"What browser are you using? Go to Internet Options and disable images,
then go to the forum and no images will show up."
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The computer settings are fixed in such a way that it won't let me change those settings.
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"Or use this
proxy:
http://www.hidemyass.com
You can now get a netbook
for $200 I hear. It's very handy and you can use it to use the wifi at
Denny's, Starbucks and many malls, cafes, etc.
Winston"
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Trying to save money for the trip. Plus, the cheap computers cost more like $300-$350, not $200. Also, this doesn't get rid of the problem where someone walking past could see an X-Rated image and I could get in trouble.
