Abusive server titles

[V00D00]

I was going to post this in the General section, but then it might have got more attention than it deserved

Normally I wouldn't raise an eyebrow about bad language and abusive comments in-game, it's always been with this game and certain players. However, launching the server browser just to discover 6 out of the populated servers are called  "F**K Redrum" with a map name called StanIsAB**ch is just a bit too much and slightly depressing.

Surely with that static IP address, something can be done about this by the MasterServers.

In any case, all these person is actually doing is being a good advert for the RedRum server, whether they realise it or not. I really thought idiocy had all but been eradicated, given how few of us are actually left and how the vast majority of us are oldschool/hardcore Unreal fans.

When there's 11 populated servers and 6 of them are this one, someone is getting way more attention than they deserve and I personally find myself thinking what is the point in us genuine server-owners putting time and effort in, just to see our servers obscured by the many appearances of this one.

Surely, surely, surely someone can do something about this.

[¤§kàárjHüntèr¤]

First off, (and once again) thank you for the awesome round we played earlier!

And I agree - seeing those servers listed wasn't a great first "re-impression" of how things have been going.

Surely something can be done about the troll.

[Smirftsch]

I agree with that in general, but it's quite some effort needed to ban a specific server and so far we only did this once. If only one does not participate it's all useless since the new multi masterservers do update with the other existing servers.
I hate people doing this and it's really bad for our small community, but did anyone ever try to contact the server admin in any way? That should be tried before I think.

[V00D00]

.... but it's quite some effort needed to ban a specific server and so far we only did this once. If only one does not participate it's all useless since the new multi masterservers do update with the other existing servers.

Ah I see the problem yes, thanks for clarifying that. Although surely all the people that run a master server would implement it since they would surely want it gone also.

......but did anyone ever try to contact the server admin in any way? That should be tried before I think.

Yes that would be the sensislbe route and was my first thought, but would you believe it, they didn't put an email contact on any of their "dummy" servers. Also, given the level of immaturity displayed by this person, I would highly doubt they would be open to any suggestions even if they were contacted....

It breaks my little Vandorian [ch9829] to see our ever-declining list of populated servers more than 50% filled with that rubbish!

Oh well, que sera, sera

[han]

Tried an RDNS with his server ip? But my opinion is to contact him/them first if possible as this mostly solves the issue.

[BobIsUnreal]

Some information
The servers are hosted on a vps.
The person can use probably as many IP,s as they want ,
simply rent another vps on the host.
Or ... Gasp... Rent a sever on another host,

They have already done this is psst and used new IP.
Also would point out that if you ban them, staticly or range,
you will effectively screw over anyone else who uses that vps host.

One on syntax errors Dm servers used that host for a while.

From what I heard the fake servers are there in retaliation for a player ban of a player from redrum.
To bad the person paying to run the server isn't smart enough to just use the vps as a IP tunnel to subvert the ban....

On that note I will point on the success on the last master server ban.
Our good friend pinto is wandering around again on servers. While half his area can't play unreal properly.


My recommendation is we add a feature to the client that allows clients to selectivly hide servers from the listing. So the client can decide. Orr you know if it offends you firewall it locally.

Other interesting ways would be to modify the server query return lovely to not be offensive.

[Hyper]

I understand the problem, but I'm not in favor of blacklisting servers at master server level. I will keep my master server as open as possible. And now we have a bunch of master servers which are queried simultaneously there is no single point of control.

A long time ago I maintained a small IP blacklist of Unreal 226f servers for use with Unreal Gold client users. This allowed Unreal Gold users to blacklist 226f servers that crashed their Gold clients. This can be effective but needs continuous updates of the blacklist. Anyone who does not want to see specific servers can make their own blacklist by firewalling the IP addresses.

But the issue of abusive server names is as old as Unreal itself, and generally the hoster of such servers gets tired of wasting their server resources to them so they tend to disappear after a few weeks to months.

[Carbon]

Idiot + Anonymity = ugh. But then there is the question of are there actual rules being broken or is it just personal sensibilities that are offended?

[V00D00]

But then there is the question of are there actual rules being broken or is it just personal sensibilities that are offended?

Yes I see that. But I have two children aged 7 and 9, the eldest of which I would have introduced to online Unreal if it weren't for this sort of nonsense So maybe no rules broken but it is a shame.....

Would love to know what counts as "breaking a rule", if this sort of behaviour is "tolerated".

If the most popular server NewbiesPlayground doesn't accept in-game bad language or abusive behaviour, why is it "acceptable" in the main broadcasting area (so to speak).

Having said that, after reading Hyper's comment I tend to agree with him. Sooner or later it will go away I guess.

Happy fraggin' Nali protectors.

[Smirftsch]

this all topic pretty much reflects my personal thoughts about this problem. Even if tried to ban it's still pretty ineffective and yet the point when this should happen remains unclear.
For the "victim" however this all is - forgive me- bullshit. Not to mention that I also dislike this in regard to our "reputation" as community. We should give it some thoughts what options we have instead. What about contacting the VPS hoster maybe?

[V00D00]

For the "victim" however this all is - forgive me- bullshit.

Absolutely, I totally agree with that. Sadly though, someone returning after years away from the game or someone joining for the first time won't know "these things" and will be immediately put off. I know I would be.

[TigerTheGreat]

Happy fraggin' Nali protectors.

So I assume, as opposed to that statement, the Nali Oppressor here will earn a nice bulls-eye on his back and it's "Happy fraggin' Nali protectors, Oppressor Season OPEN" :-P

On a serious note, I don't believe we can do anything about the situation aside from shooting our own feet in the process of trying to block that person from participating in online activities. Just as - according to IsUnreal - happened with Tiago Pinto's case - he's cheerily playing online and spewing his crap wherever he can and half of his area is probably unable to access Unreal online which will at some point force Smirftsch to remove all the limitations that were put in place to keep Tiago off.

The best way is to "not feed the trolls", ergo leave that angsty kid doing that anti-oZ bullshit alone. Sad but true.

[V00D00]

with Tiago Pinto's case - he's cheerily playing online and spewing his crap wherever he can..

Yes well that's the part that sucks. I won't let my politely-behaved eldest play this game online yet the abusive ones are still here playing and causing problems. Maybe they will grow up one day and regret their stupidity, we can only hope. Maybe I will do what Bob and someone else suggested and firewall those 2 IPs and he can play on the Newbies server where I am yet to see this behaviour happen and even if it has it is not tolerated.

And yes, you are correct Victor "NaliOpressor" Delacroix, "don't feed the trolls"  - noted.

So I assume, as opposed to that statement, the Nali Oppressor here will earn a nice bulls-eye on his back and it's "Happy fraggin' Nali protectors, Oppressor Season OPEN" :-P

Yes and may Chizra have mercy on your soul.......
Incurring the wrath of our Nali deities will condemn you to unending eons involving re-painting the Sunspire (with a very small brush) 

[TigerTheGreat]

May Jrath have mercy on you when I find you online... because I will not. :-P And none of your false gods will be there to protect you!

[V00D00]

May Jrath have mercy on you when I find you online... because I will not. :-P And none of your false gods will be there to protect you!

Thanks mum

[BobIsUnreal]

The abusive server owner was contacted by a third party( the owner made himself known to selective players),
and after some talks, it was decided that he/she would agree to make the name less abusive.

he/she also explained his/her reasoning , and its  much too much to understand.
it not even about a ban it has to do with somone life, health and relationships (or somthing?).

here is a peerblock block list of the entire ranges.
blocked it last night , only becuase it was distracting to find real populated servers
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/187 ... akerum.p2p

[V00D00]

Nice one Bob! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Now at least those server titles looks less angry
Guess being met halfway is a good result or a least an improvement.

On a very similar topic, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when (as you mentioned earlier in this thread Bob) I saw for the first time yesterday that the TiagoPinto server is back up.

Guess we can't win them all

[Smirftsch]

indeed that's some good news. Looks like this community is still somewhat healthy. GJ Bob!!!!

[BrakeDanceJ]

You guys are missing the point. It's not the offensive server title, rather it's falsely populating the 'populated servers' list as it's reporting players that don't exist by manipulating the protocol..

[V00D00]

You guys are missing the point. It's not the offensive server title, rather it's falsely populating the 'populated servers' list as it's reporting players that don't exist by manipulating the protocol..

I don't really think this person is gaining an "advantage" by doing this, do you? if anything it's making them look a little bit silly Or to put it another way, did you join any of those dummy servers and play? Nah.....

Also you seemed to have missed what Hyper wrote and what seems to be the general opinion:-

I understand the problem, but I'm not in favor of blacklisting servers at master server level. I will keep my master server as open as possible. And now we have a bunch of master servers which are queried simultaneously there is no single point of control.

So like it or not, we have we to suffer it until it goes away. Compared to what the server titlest said before, I'm counting it as a result! Cheers!

Also, starting a new thread of your own with the word "a**holes" in is not exactly the most sensible way to go either, it might just add fuel to a fire that was on its way out. There's just no need for profanity (of any nature), even if you were talking about someone who is currently acting like one. . Here in a forum, we try and maintain a certain level of politeness and decorum, albeit tricky sometimes. 

http://www.oldunreal.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1208897525

Peace out!

PS. Any chance the "duplicate" post in the General section could be deleted, since the reason I started this thread in this section in the first place is so this issue didn't get as much attention....

[Smirftsch]

Its not nice either way and unfortunately we are having the problem with some servers showing population where it isn't for ages. On the other hand such servers are usually not visited very often anymore after the people noticed that.

As for banning, even if done there wouldn't be a final solution since it's not very difficult to spoof an IP either. Also, banning an entire range however could result in banning other server(s) as well, so this is no real solution for the problem.
Of course, could add some kind of spam protection and language filter, but everyone researching this topic will notice sooner or later that it is close to impossible to catch everything.
Example (using something harmless ):
Idiot
1d1ot
idi0t
ldloT
...
you can see, even with such a short and simple word there is almost an endless amount of variants- you get the point.

Of course could try to combine with something already existing, such as SpamAssassin, but even that is limited and the effort to make use of that is plain overkill. Not speaking of that we would have an entirely different form of usage here than usually used in f.e. E-Mails.

As said already above, the number of real options is limited.
In a more permanent case like here, the only chance I see is to contact the abuse center of the server's host and asking for taking it down. Since commercial hosts usually take care about their reputation they should take this serious.

[BrakeDanceJ]

There is a very simple solution here with a modification to the master server code to add a "RejectFalsePlayerCount" boolean setting. Upon receipt of a beacon, the master server would perform a /players/ query against the reporting server's query port. If the quantity of players returned does not match the player count integer, reject the beacon.

Alternatively, this setting could be implemented client side. Don't take the server's word for its player count.. rather, manually count the players in the server browser.

This would keep abusive servers out of the populated servers window.

If you don't think this is worth implementing, I'll start up work on my standalone master server project again.

[Smirftsch]

besides that I think that the idea is not bad, this could be faked also, but it should make it at least a bit harder. We are using already an advanced masterserver system (333networks) and I will relay this idea to Darkelarius & Polyverse.
But why so hostile? We are on the same side here. If you have nothing better to do then have fun writing yet another master...man man.

[BrakeDanceJ]

besides that I think that the idea is not bad, this could be faked also, but it should make it at least a bit harder. We are using already an advanced masterserver system (333networks) and I will relay this idea to Darkelarius & Polyverse.
But why so hostile? We are on the same side here. If you have nothing better to do then have fun writing yet another master...man man.

No hostility here, possibly just me being blunt due to being busy. I wasn't aware you were running a 'non-UCC' master. I wasn't being snotty in saying 'if you don't do it I will'; though I can see how it came out that way. I was simply saying I'd volunteer to do it if you didn't think it was worth implementing.

It's not really a waste of time. A basic master server can be written in < 100 lines in a higher-level language. In fact.. I even have a proof-of-concept hacked together in the form of a cli php script that works surprising well

[Smirftsch]

happy to hear and happy I got it wrong

well as said will relay this idea and we will see what they say, but they are great guys, so I am very positive about it. Will give feedback asap.