Not a newby

[Ray]

Truthsayer - if your post was nothing more than something along the lines of "you'd do better to research the needs before buying", I seriously doubt that would get you banned.

I must say, however, that the tone of your "new" posts to-date seem a bit confrontational to me, so it makes me wonder just what the old ones were like.

[truthsayer]

OK, South Park, that is fair enough and I quite understand your reasoning. The latest "ban" is under the ID CLAYPOT.
There is a thread begun on 08.01.2019 at 10.06 about Mps Rene Komoda where my comment was "judgemental". My access was withdrawn shortly after that post. My observation would still go for anything - why ever buy something you are not certain you can manage properly.
Take a look down the other posts for the ID and do please let me know if anyone can see a dismissable offence.
And, Ray, yes I am certainly confrontational about this, being angry at being messed about so much. It is just political correctness gone overboard. Come on, I am a stiff upper lipped Englishman only trying to help others enjoy their plants and avoid making expensive mistakes.

[katrina]

Truthsayer...I checked out the post and your profile on that username (claypot)...and there is no infractions on that ID. If you click on my username and look at my profile...you will see my profile page pop up...click on the tab that says "infractions"...you'll see I was given an infraction for "insulting". Long story short...I was not the only one given an infraction for that one and I let myself get far to upset over something I should've just ignored but...it's all irrelevant now. Point is...you can see I was given an infraction. Your Claypot ID was never given an infraction and it's not showing as Banned. I suspect that the issue is something on your end and not the forum's. I could be wrong but that's what I'm seeing from my end. Camille will be back shortly and she can look into the situation.

FWIW - I see nothing wrong w/your post. Yes, it was a little short and some might interpret that as rude but, ultimately, it wasn't really what I would consider an off limits type comment. I tend to be straight forward and have been told I can come across as rude in posts too so I try to re-read my words before I submit...maybe soften the edges before I hit "post". Whatever... I don't see where you were banned or anything on that ID.

I even looked at your other posts and there is nothing that I can see would ever get you banned. I do believe, 100%, that the issue is on your end...your computer or maybe your internet connection. ??

[truthsayer]

That is most helpful, Katrina, thank you so much. Many people know me so it is not appropriate for me to "blow my ID cover" in open forum but I have sent you a PM showing my original ID which got banned for some reason unknown to me.
The banning is not my system nor internet. If I try to reply to a thread I get the forum message "Claypot you do not have permission........" then the only options are Log out or Home.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by truthsayer

That is most helpful, Katrina, thank you so much. Many people know me so it is not appropriate for me to "blow my ID cover" in open forum but I have sent you a PM showing my original ID which got banned for some reason unknown to me.
The banning is not my system nor internet. If I try to reply to a thread I get the forum message "Claypot you do not have permission........" then the only options are Log out or Home.

So weird!! I replied to your PM. My guess at this point is that there is a glitch w/in the forum systems somewhere. There was a server switch or something a couple/few years ago and then there was some other update done earlier this year(I believe it was just earlier this year) and there could be something askew there. I think I mentioned in the PM that when this most recent update or whatever was done...a lot of us were unable to access the forum. It looked like we had been blocked. ??

Camille should be able to get to the bottom of the issue(s) as soon as she's back and in the loop here. I honestly don't believe you were banned though...certainly not w/out receiving notification of it. I know when I got that infraction I received an email telling me I had been given the infraction and...if memory serves me...I think I was even put into time out for a period. Maybe not on the time out...it's been too long to be sure...but I did receive an email about it all so I honestly believe if you were banned or whatever you would've gotten notification. Hang in there...Camille will get it worked out.

[truthsayer]

This is bizaar. Thanks, Katrina.
I have just signed in to my oldest ID and it gave me 512 "new posts" to read!
I can sign into all ID's but not contribute as I don't "have permission".

[SouthPark]

Possibly a computer glitch. Just suspecting computer glitch, because while user 'claypot' can still be seen in forum posts, a peek in the forum members list does not show 'claypot' in the list. So maybe the data-base or some server setting has been messed up.

A chat to an admin that knows how to tap into the data-base and take a look around will be the best bet to get this sorted.

I'll let you into a comparable situation (if you're interested that is) - involving myself (user: SouthPark) on orchidtalk forums (not orchidboard forums).

In orchidTALK forum - I mentioned words like 'slippertalk forums' and 'orchidboard forums'. Their forum computer scripts will pick-up automatically or alerts moderators when these words are detected.

I can tell you that each time this occurs (on their forum), the users (like us) get some kind of penalty point added. The users (us) are totally oblivious to this. It happens, and they don't tell you about it.

So, eventually, their computer software will reach a thresh-hold limit in the penalty points, and automatic restriction is placed on your account. It's as if their system goes into a defense mode. I reached that limit unknowingly. No forum documents mentions to users anything about this sort of defense mechanism.

The result - if you're logged in and the restriction has been automatically set by the server software, then it can take 5 minutes of web-browser spinning icon to spin in order to see any particular page on their forums. Yes.... either 5 minutes of spinning activity, or sometimes a time-out after 5 minutes. Can't see images of any kind while logged in. Cannot even log out when logged in. You can mark 'like' for other posts, no problem. But attempts to post in any thread results in 'waiting for moderator approval', which never gets approved, even after weeks, or months.

So basically, I can log into orchidTALK forum, but can't do anything useful when logged in. It's not a ban or block as such. But the account is pretty much unworkable.

I did mention that I cannot log-out once I'm logged in to orchidtalk forums (not orchidboard). The only way I can sever the link is by resetting/clearing web-browser cookies and cache. And very interestingly, once I've cut the link, which is equivalent to logging out ...... everything then goes back to normal. In other words, if I'm NOT logged in, then I can see all posts/images etc, without 5 minute lags etc. The issue occurs only when I do log-in to orchidTALK.

The difference between your case and my case is ..... I discussed and reported the issue with the administrator (in facebook messaging, since even the forum private messaging is blocked in my orchidTALK account). The seemingly unhelpful moderator at orchidTALK mentioned something like there's nothing they can do about it. My response to that is (in my mind only) 'yeah ---- right'. He even mentioned that his recommendation was to just not visit/use orchidTALK for a long time - making no mention about the definition of 'not use for a long time'. Even after months...same situation.

A genuinely helpful administrator would have told me for example --- wait 4 weeks for some automatic script to clear penalties --- and just avoid mentioning words like 'slippertalk' and 'orchidboard' etc, which the automatic script filter will pick up. I didn't get any helpful 'help', as if they didn't want to help. They didn't even recommend registering a new ID.

So, I'm not even going to bother with orchidTALK forum anymore. Lack of help and lack of lenience.

I'm suspecting your case (truthsayer/claypot) is different. But I'm just mentioning the above - as a discussion with an administrator at least allows you to assess the situation, and understand more about what the issue is - and whether it can be sorted. Normally, it can be sorted. But - in my case - the admin of orchidTALK (not orchidboard) doesn't want to sort out the issue.

But that's ok. I find orchidBOARD (not orchidTALK) has decent/helpful adminstratorS (or administrator).

Absolutely no issues here on orchidboard.

And ...... while thinking about it, I do remember seeing you post as Claypot before. I didn't notice any out-of-place comments you made as 'Claypot', so I'm with some other users here ----- system glitch most likely. I didn't see any remark that would result in anything like a ban or account restriction.

You mentioned that you joined in around 2009. What was your username/id at that time? The other possibility is - if you're using same/similar IP address, then if a ban occurred from your early ID/username(s), then the server software might somehow work out that you have same IP address or email address, and automatically trigger a block.

[truthsayer]

Well, Southpark, yes of course I am interested and read your post right through with great interest. Forums (or should it be Fora?) are difficult things to manage I appreciate that, and maybe with our moderator on vacation things have moved slowly - but we are all entitled to holiday. Judging from the items on this thread I am pleased I decided to raise the issue and not just let it ride. I am sure readers will understand my frustration.
As for my original ID it is not appropriate for me to declare that in open forum because many people - even in the orchid world in Australia and New Zealand (who knows maybe even you) would recognise my real name. It appears that like CLAYPOT even the ID from 2009 is not in the member list yet again like CLAYPOT I can log in and am allowed access to read new messages but not input.
I am sure my IP address has not changed although during that period I have changed from PC to MAC. I discount computer glitch at my end because everything worked then each ID failed at some time never to recover.
I shall be most interested to receive something from Camille when she returns, but if you read this Camille please do not feel immediate response is required.
I appreciate the constructive concern being shown by forum members and look forward to stabilizing membership sometime.

[SouthPark]

Thanks claypot. By computer glitch.... I mean glitch on the server side... ie. orchidboard side. Not your side.

Understandable about not revealing your previous ID. I only started using orchid forums fairly recently...... started late last year or so. I find orchidboard and slippertalk forums quite good. Actually.... very good.

Orchidtalk has booby traps. Any mention of other forum names or other forum websites and other things leads to issues. Their rules are fine.... acceptable. The issue is that they don't tell you about penalty point buildups for writing other orchid forum names. The main issue is their moderator/administrator doesn't help after you diplomatically reasoning with them. So..... I no longer bother to log in to orchidtalk forums. I'm happy to be a member of orchidBOARD forums. It's nice here. I like the admins here.

[Ray]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I don't understand folks' fear of allowing their names to be known.

Truthsayer/Claypot/whoever - your opening post touted your multiple orchid greenhouses and 30 years of experience, yet you hide who you are? To me, that is either unnecessary withheld credibility, preventing "Yes, I've been to Fred's place, and his plants are fantastic!", or it means there is something to hide.