What's Going On?

[qualtrough]

Tried to access the Home page of my US-based Web host to check my site stats and find it is blocked as 'inappropriate' content. Provider is Go-Daddy, which I believe is one of the largest such companies in the world. I think they also have a policy against hosting porn sites, etc. Can anyone tell me what the rationale behind this is? Are we in China now?

[clokwise]

Are we in China now?

Actually in China they don't block many sites, mostly the blocked ones have political views the govt disagrees with. In China they have a system when you live in constant fear of being ratted out by your friends, neighbors, cyber cafe, ISP, or your webhost. Once in a while they randomly nab somebody and shake him down, just to give everyone a scare and keeps everyone in line. Internet CEOs in particular walk a fine line and that must be a very stressful occupation. To a degree you see that same paranoia amongst sites here in Thailand.

Net censorship works in China because the government wisely realized that self-censorship is always far more comprehensive than formal censorship. Too bad the Thai government doesn't have as much confidence in their populace.

[qualtrough]

It is going to be a real bummer if this is not a temporary thing. Won't help much to any reputation for being a good place to do business...

[clokwise]

Speaking of paranoia -- just 10 minutes ago I posted a workaround solution here, and that message has already been deleted!!!

Mr. Moderator, you read my post and you know darn well it had no information about open proxies, and BTW you of all people _should_ know that godaddy.com is a major domain name registrar, not a porn site or what have you. The guy had a legitimate concern. Would you care to explain why you deleted that message??? I realize you have no obligation to do so, but I'm simply dumbfounded!!

[clokwise]

BTW, I simply told the guy a different url to access the site -- instead of http, it was something like http, but with one extra letter added. I can't believe I'm even having to write in code now to try to ensure THIS message does not get deleted.

[marquess]

BTW, I simply told the guy a different url to access the site -- instead of http, it was something like http, but with one extra letter added. I can't believe I'm even having to write in code now to try to ensure THIS message does not get deleted.

Well as you said, self censorship. We seem to be moving towards a state of paranoia. It is only natural that the more these guys censor the the more people are going to talk about it and find ways around it.

Edited April 27, 2006 by marquess

[clokwise]

Well as you said, self censorship. We seem to be moving towards a state of paranoia.[/size][/font][/i]

Certainly on this site! It's pathetic, because even in China there is OPEN discussion online about blockages and workarounds. BTW, I'm fluent in Chinese and lived there over 10 years and still visit and work there several times a year. Wish I was fluent in Thai because I've stumbled across a number of forums in Thai where they seem to be discussing the blockages frequently. I'd guess the paranoia around here may be more related to the fact that this site is farang operated.

Now, would ANYONE care to speculate why godaddy.com was blocked?

[monty]

What the F***

I have several domains registered with godaddy, have been doing some updating of nameservers just fine this morning, and trying to check on my work just a few minutes ago they <deleted> blocking it as inapropriate

Just found out they are even stupid enough to allow SSL traffic, most of godaddy's site is secure so I still have access without having to resort to circomventing government controls...

This getting out of hand pretty fast now, soon the internet is going to be useless over here, I'm creating inbound tourism traffic with my godaddy's registered sites for Christs sake(not naughty at all, hotel and golf)...

It also seems they are using some sort of heuristic algorythm to block traffic, not just a list of blocked sites...

Edited April 27, 2006 by monty

[marquess]

What the F***

I have several domains registered with godaddy, have been doing some updating of nameservers just fine this morning, and trying to check on my work just a few minutes ago they <deleted> blocking it as inapropriate

Just found out they are even stupid enough to allow SSL traffic, most of godaddy's site is secure so I still have access without having to resort to circomventing government controls...

This getting out of hand pretty fast now, soon the internet is going to be useless over here, I'm creating inbound tourism traffic with my godaddy's registered sites for Christs sake(not naughty at all, hotel and golf)...

It also seems they are using some sort of heuristic algorythm to block traffic, not just a list of blocked sites...

I am sure that if they had their way, they would love to shut down the net. As to the point made earlier by Clokwise, yes they are discussing how to get round the censorship openly on some Thai sites. In fact I was given a name of a particular site today, by a Thai student. I'm sure that incompetance and stupidity is prevelant all over the world, but it seems as though these guys are trying to turn it into a fine art! The longer they keep this up, the more clued up people will be come at getting around it!

[OlRedEyes]

Wonder when the brilliant idea of just blocking ALL foreign sites will strike them.....

[penzman]

I've been having problems as well lately when clicking "ADD REPLY" on this site, "SEND"with GMAIL or "apply" button in my admn panel of u.s. based website... Just goes nowhere...

Circus clowns are running the show...

[giulio]

Wonder when the brilliant idea of just blocking ALL foreign sites will strike them.....

yes,this is reality,stupid idea without respect for us

but,off course,we are more intelligent of this guy that decide blocksites,he not respect us and we not respect he,and can see in internet what we like without problem

thanks for this stupid and loser internet censorship

Edited April 27, 2006 by giulio

[Amethyst]

ive got tons of domains at godaddy .. now i cant even go to their sites

[monty]

seems like some of the circus clowns woke up and unblocked godaddy again....

Can get in again with Maxnet TT&T...

[rainman]

maybe got blocked because it contains the word 'daddy'

[markuk]

i can access www.godaddy.com with no issues from Bangkok.?

[qualtrough]

After I created this post Clokwise PM'ed me with the fix (thanks!) and I was able to access GoDaddy that way. As an earlier post noted, the GoDaddy site is not being blocked now, so hopefully that is the end of that!

[Amethyst]

finally im able to go to godaddy site

[groo]

maybe got blocked because it contains the word 'daddy'

lol thats funny.

[astral]

Have you tried accessing the site by IP address, rather than the URL?

[Whitey]

It is amazing the sites that get blocked, even temporarily. Sometimes it makes me wonder if they don't just block sites just for the heck of it.

I have a VPS for some of my web hosting so I have set up a Squid proxy server on it that is password protected and only I can use it. The VPS is only $20 a month, but it sure saves a lot of hassle. I never have to worry about blocked sites and if I get really paranoid, I can encrypt the traffic from my computer to my server. About all anyone can see from me is a bunch of encrypted packets flowing to an unused IP address on my server.

[elkangorito]

Knowing how disorganised these censorship morons are, they've probably got a total mess on their hands. With so many sites to scrutinise, they've probably lost track of what they are up to.

Richard Craniums of the highest order (no offense meant to Richard Cranium).

[johng]

Richard Craniums

Is that some sort of rhyming slang ?? if so, all I can think it means is Geraniums !!!

Geraniums (Pelargonium species) are among the most popular flowering plants. They should be planted outdoors where they will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily, but only after all danger of frost is past and the soil has warmed.

Should do well in Thailand.

[elkangorito]

Richard Craniums

Is that some sort of rhyming slang ?? if so, all I can think it means is Geraniums !!!

Geraniums (Pelargonium species) are among the most popular flowering plants. They should be planted outdoors where they will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily, but only after all danger of frost is past and the soil has warmed.

Should do well in Thailand.

Obviously, you're pulling my leg.

[beleby]

So would it be totally inappropiate for me to ask PLEASE PLEASE PM ME if you have details of a simple way to get around the many many site blockages by the Thai thought police? Thanks!

[elkangorito]

It is amazing the sites that get blocked, even temporarily. Sometimes it makes me wonder if they don't just block sites just for the heck of it.

I have a VPS for some of my web hosting so I have set up a Squid proxy server on it that is password protected and only I can use it. The VPS is only $20 a month, but it sure saves a lot of hassle. I never have to worry about blocked sites and if I get really paranoid, I can encrypt the traffic from my computer to my server. About all anyone can see from me is a bunch of encrypted packets flowing to an unused IP address on my server.

So would it be totally inappropiate for me to ask PLEASE PLEASE PM ME if you have details of a simple way to get around the many many site blockages by the Thai thought police? Thanks!

Sounds like Whitey has all the info. Speak to him.

[Whitey]

So would it be totally inappropiate for me to ask PLEASE PLEASE PM ME if you have details of a simple way to get around the many many site blockages by the Thai thought police? Thanks!

Sounds like Whitey has all the info. Speak to him.

The easiest way to get a few skills in Linux servers or be capable or reading directions, pay $20 for a VPS and have encrypted access with a secure proxy server and be able to host websites to boot. PM me if you need any help, I aint in the business, just trying to help out my fellow farangs.