So, I just tried to login to KGS on the name I've always used, hailthorn, and it claims that KGS has blocked my internet address due to an inappropriate login name being used.

And I haven't logged into any other Screen Names. That either means:

A. Someone got on my computer and signed on to KGS under an inappropriate name. (I was out of the house most of yesterday, so this seems plausible.)
B. Something is messed up.

I'm not entirely sure what I should do. Any suggestions?

Update: Well, I just sent an email to KGS about this. Hopefully this can get resolved soon. -_-;

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

Another update. I found out my uncle did it. So this means I'm being wrongfully punished for something I didn't even do.

And because they blocked my internet address, I can't even sign on via another computer on the same network. This is ridiculous.

I guess I'll just switch to Tygem or something because I do not find this fair at all. Not in the least. Why not punish the account that logged on instead of punishing totally unrelated accounts?

Block the offending user name. But not an entire network of computers.

I'm sorry for the rant, but this is really, really frustrating.

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

I think most bans on KGS are temporary, so you will probably be able to log in again tomorrow.

_________________
Patience, grasshopper.

That may be true, but I don't find this situation fair at all. I've played on KGS for about a year now without any problems until now. It seems rather extreme to me to block an entire network of computers based on the actions of one individual. And it wasn't even me.

It's like I said in my post before, why don't they target the offending user name instead of punishing people who have no relation to the incident?

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

I guess I'll just relax and wait it out. This is only the first time this sort of thing has happened after all. Sorry for the mini-rant again.

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

Sounds entertaining, so, what nickname did your uncle use?

I don't think I can post it here.

I don't want to get blocked from here too!

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

Just encode it with a simple Caesarian shift.

lol interesting. Okay then, this is what he said:

F#$*Nugget. Charming, eh?

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

I understand the frustration, but if KGS just banned usernames, the people who earned the ban could get around it too easily. Also, perhaps you are not entirely innocent; if I had an uncle like that, I wouldn't let him anywhere near my computer.

_________________
Patience, grasshopper.

Well, I wasn't home to do anything about it unfortunately. But this sort of punishment raises a question: What if multiple users live in the same home? It seems unfair to me to punish all of them for the actions of an individual.

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

Look on the bright side...it gives you a chance to do some Go study!

_________________

lol I suppose that's one way of looking at it.

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

Try to remember that the KGS admins cannot tell who is using your computer. All they know is the IP address and possibly the machine ID, and what was being done. Most people who do "mess around" and face the consequences will claim that it wasn't them, but a sibling, a visitor at their house, a "hacker" or their pet goldfish. This may actually even be true in some cases, minus the goldfish, but someone looking into a matter like this doesn't (and cannot) know it and has to base the action on the actually available and verifiable facts: what was done, what machine was used, and where the connection came from.

This isn't somehow specific to KGS. The same would have happened on other go servers, forums, online games, etc. You're responsible for what is done with your computer. If others have access to it, take it up with them and/or prevent that they access your machine. Blocking a throw-away account is pointless and inefficient. It's logical to block the person's access instead, otherwise it'd be an open invitation to trolling without consequences.

That said, all your posts here have been nice and positive, so I doubt anyone truly thinks you acted so poorly on KGS that you got banned. But the admins there don't know everyone personally, their living situation, their circumstances -- and you can't expect them to. But reportedly they are a pretty neat bunch of people that you can talk to. Most folks respond very positively when approached constructively and politely.

Believe me, I understand the delimma that situations like this pose. I'm not typically the kind of person to get angry and start cursing and acting immature. I understand the nature of the infraction, of course. I believe screen names like that shouldn't be permitted since most areas on the internet adopt a family friendly environment.

My little rant was just a way of venting. I doubt I'd ever seriously consider not going on KGS anymore. The community is too good there.

At the same time, I can't help but feel that there is a better way to handle this. I sent them a very polite email concerning this situation, but as you say, they have no way of knowing whether it truly was me or not. And so they have to take it at face value.

As for my computer, you'd think I'd have a little privacy in my own room. But after talking with my uncle, this was really just a prank gone bad. I just haven't encountered anything like this over the 1 year span I've been playing Go on KGS.

I guess my biggest problem was that I can't play Go until they fix it. -_- I tried using Tygem, and I didn't really like the interface. Especially not after using KGS for so long.

Oh well. As they say, "life happens."

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

Right, it's not fair to ban you for your uncle's actions. but admins aren't trying to be fair. They're trying to keep jerks like your uncle off of KGS. And banning the IP address he uses is the only practical way.

It is only a temporary ban. That's why jerks keep coming back. But banning them for a while gives admins and other users some time before they come back, so it's some help.

Yes, I understand. I may not like it, but I suppose it's one of the best methods there are. He thought he was being funny, but I guess he didn't really stop to think of the ramifications.

Oh, and YES!! I'm not blocked anymore!!!

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

you should set a password on your computer so that random people can't use it when you're not around

While that's a good idea, it won't stop this from happening again since it's essentially blocking every computer in the house.

So I just have to hope they keep their promise to not mess with it again. -_-

Although after reading some replies here, I understand it's really the only thing they can do.

All I know is, I can get on again, so I'm happy about that!

_________________
Slava Ukraini!

If you have sole control over your router / access point, you could block port 2379, or whatever port KGS currently uses.

Even if others have access to the router, since every other service would be operating fine, they'd probably just assume the KGS service was down.