Can't get on a message board

Hello, there. I'm new, never posted before, and was referred here by a friend who said he got some GREAT help here with a virus on his computer. And he's a semi-geek, and me, what I know could fit in a thimble.... with room, lol.

So, anyway, here goes. Last week, from work, I go to post on a major league baseball (mlb.com) message board, where I've been posting for about six years now. I go to mets.com, hit fan forum, message boards, and am immediately redirected to mlb.com home page. Even if I log in before I attempt to get on the message board, when I try to access the message board, I again am redirected to the mlb.com home page. I have called mlb several times, and they insist there is "nothing wrong" with my account, but I am suspicious that this sounds like an IP address banning, which they claim they don't do. I have tried other computers here, but the same thing happens. My IT people claim nothing has changed on their end. What's funny is, another friend of mine from that message board has the same problem, and someone else did a few months ago, couldn't get on the message board from work.

I can, however, access the board from my home computer, which of course, has a different IP address, duh, even I know that, lol.

I've tried everything here, deleting cookies, installing a new browser, nothing works.

What do you lovely geeks think? Any ideas? Thank you !

 

Hmmm... since this is experienced by all users on your work network (ie all users of the SAME public IP), and you cannot recreate the issue with another IP, I would have to agree with your suspicion of an IP ban.

Unfortunately, if this is the case, we cannot help you circumvent their security. What you might try is visiting www.showmemyip.com, getting your public IP, and asking the administrators if that IP has been banned.

 

Thank you! I am going to try that, right now. Of course, they could care less, basically, over there at mlb.com, but hey, it's worth a shot.

 

>> My IT people claim nothing has changed on their end. What's funny is, another friend of mine from that message board has the same problem, and someone else did a few months ago, couldn't get on the message board from work. I can, however, access the board from my home computer, which of course, has a different IP address, duh, even I know that, lol. debmc <<

I don't mean this to offend you or anything like that; but is viewing this MLB site work-related? If not; does your company's owner, boss or supervisors mind employees cruising the major league baseball (mlb.com) message boards and fan sites during work hours?

Because I have to admit; I giggled a little when I read: "My IT people claim nothing has changed on their end," lol. I mean would they actually tell you if they "purposely" changed something which consequently caused their employees not be able to use a specific type of site during work hours?

Anyway, since you state that you can access the site from home (but not from your work); this "problem" quite obviously has something specifically to do with the work computer. Getting back to the question at hand... Are you using any type of "pop-up" blocker on the work computer? Sometimes these can cause unwanted problems on a few forums and with some websites out there.

Another remote possibility here: Has whatever hardware or software firewall that the company uses; ever asked permission previously (prior to entering such sites, I mean)? It's possible that someone using that computer might have inadvertently "blocked" access to the site through the firewall.

In the end; I would tend to agree with MG forum member Mada_Milty. If this identical problem is experienced by all users on your work-based network and affects all of the users of that identical public IP, and you cannot re-create this issue with your home computer, I suspect that this is likely an "IP ban" as well (regardless of whether the IT geeks told you otherwise).

Good Luck!

 

This is a family owned small company, and since I am a family member, I really think they would tell me, yes, lol.

We tried turning off the firewall, that didn't work either, and yes we do use pop up blockers, but I never had a problem before last week.

I'm thinking the IP ban may be coming from mlb.com, they are the ones doing the blocking from their end, because as I said, other people that I know from the forum are having the exact same problem; it can't be all of our admins blocking us, it must be coming from mlb.com, I would think.

 

>> I'm thinking the IP ban may be coming from mlb.com, they are the ones doing the blocking from their end, because as I said, other people that I know from the forum are having the exact same problem; it can't be all of our admins blocking us, it must be coming from mlb.com, I would think. debmc <<

Yes that's quite possible, especially since you can reach the site OK at home. Or perhaps; rather than an outright ban it is just some recent glitch or "ghost in the machine" over at mlb.com, since other members of the forum are having these same problems while trying to access the site.

The next time you contact them via e-mail (the folks at mlb.com, I mean); you might want to mention that you have been in contact with other members who are having identical problems. Perhaps not everyone who is currently having this problem is actually reporting it.

Our boss does not mind if we use the internet for "non work-related" stuff; as long as we get all of our work done on time or earlier. However god help the poor schlub who downloads malware or messes up the computer in some way due to screwing around online! <lol>

Good Luck

 

I have mentioned it, but I haven't received any reply to several emails I sent, they just don't care at mlb.com, I've found, lol. I am going to call again, though, I seem to get at least a receptive ear (or so it seems) when I use the phone rather than try to email.

It could be a glitch of some sort on their end, I suppose, and perhaps it will resolve itself; if I could ONLY GET A RESPONSE from one of the board admins/mods, I'm sure I could work it out, but as I said, they don't care much over there, lol.

Thank you for all of your help, my friend who referred me here was right, you guys are great!

 

>> Thank you for all of your help, my friend who referred me here was right, you guys are great! debmc <<

Oh, anytime really! Welcome aboard!

This is a great site for solving computer problems and internet matters with many knowledgeable members and the oversight is competent as well. Stop by anytime!

Good Luck!

 

Funny... I just got someone at mlb.com who tried to fix the problem from their end, but they said they can't, and to contact our internet service provider and get a tech who can perhaps fix the problem.

It's just so weird that others from the forum are experiencing the same problem......