@Pawpcorn:

The account he deleted by accident was revived, his running ratio was transferred to the revived account, and then this most recent account (from which he made this request, both here and on the helpdesk) was banned.

SOP: Multiple accounts are merged to ONE account, and all the other accounts are banned (not "deleted")

Take care,
Pawpcorn
GTRU Staff

Thank you for the clarification.  When I read the site rules "Only one account is allowed per Internet Protocol address and user. Attempts to create multiple accounts will trigger our monitoring system that immediately terminates both accounts.", I assumed the offender was banned for life.

Yes, well, your confusion is understandable, since the rules you quoted… might best be considered "Legacy Rules" dating back to the early days, when things ran differently.

In the very early days, prior to the Sysop's creation of the "Dupe Warrior" software (for detecting multiple account cheaters) there were those rules you quoted... and members got penalized if sharing the same IP address.

Two main points there are actually obsolete, and not correct:

1. Same IP is OK and
2. Accounts aren't "...immediately terminated" {which SOUNDS scary, but then maybe that's the point to that, eh?)  :police: :afr:

To explore this deeper... more than one member can show up using the same IP...

1. AT DIFFERENT TIMES: Since most home DSL modem IPs are DYNAMIC (IPs changing often, like daily, or when rebooted) as opposed to being STATIC (a fixed IP, as often used in businesses) it will often appear that two members have the same IP, although not at the same exact time. This is due to the "recycling" effect of the limited number of IP addresses... one member can pick up the SAME IP address that another member has released (AFTER LOGGING OFF), via the daily forced "reboot" or recycle that the DSL modem undergoes automatically... or manually. These accounts are "flagged" (see #2 below)

2. AT THE SAME TIME: Taken one step further... in the same household, two members, both with their own personal computer, may share the same Internet connection, IE share the same IP. These accounts get "flagged" by the site... and staff, happening to see the flagged account, may manually take a closer look to see if there is actually a case of multiple accounts (cheating violation) in play... and (IF CLEARLY CHEATING) that same staff member may MANUALLY put both (cheating) accounts into Warned Status (unable to browse / upload / download) which automatically sends a PM to both accounts with instructions on how to resolve this (merge both / ban one / restore one)

However… two accounts with the same IP address... if not set up with the intent of cheating (IE TWO DIFFERENT MEMBERS), is 100% OK, no problem, and permitted.

THE PROBLEM arises… like in the case of roommates...? where one member decides one day, out of the blue, to log in to the system, using his roommate's computer. THAT is ONE situation where the automatic Dupe Warrior protection software kicks in, and BOTH accounts get Warned Status, PM sent, etc.
In THIS ONE ACCIDENTAL situation… select staff (equipped with Dupe Warrior Tools) must be alerted, via HelpDesk, with explanations as to the TRUTH and reality of what has happened, and only then, can BOTH accounts be MANUALLY restored to normal status, with full restoration and full normalization.

The OTHER situation, of deliberate MULTIPLE ACCOUNT CHEATING is the situation where a member tries to log in to the site with TWO accounts, on the same computer. Here again, the automatic Dupe Warrior protection software kicks in, and BOTH accounts get Warned Status, PM sent, etc. If the member follows the advice in the PM... the member can resolve the Multiple Accounts situation himself, without needing to involve staff. Unfortunately, only (maybe) half the members (getting this instructional PM) manage to be able follow the instructions themselves, (for various reasons) creating a rather constant and frequent workload to select staff to provide resolution of the situation...

Note too, then, that ANYONE, as a member, can have any number of computers, notebooks, tablets, smartphones at home, ALL able to use the SAME (SINGLE) account, even at the same time, at any time, on any or all devices. THAT IS 100% OK.

In the original opening thread… the member got the automated ADVICE-TO-RESOLVE PM, and FOLLOWED the instructions... but after he (merged and) closed the older account... he then discovered that he'd lost his "Wish List" of his original account... and thus, he requested select staff assistance to reverse his actions, once he realized his error. He should have just written the helpdesk, rather than plead his case in the forum, since it's not at all guaranteed that staff will see every forum topic... and be able to resolve it, from that source.
Writing the Helpdesk is the right way, eh?

Apologies if this seemed overly wordy, lengthy, complex, or obtuse; As a former Video/Software/Computer/Network engineer, it's difficult for me to give some simple summary; my mind doesn't quite work that way, plus it seemed you were likely interested in the minutia of the situation, especially considering the erroneous nature of the obsolete Rules Statements that you quoted, eh? :cheesy2: ... I thought you might find this interesting... and it DID manage to get my mind off the Trump "presidency" for this short time, lol.

You can always write me personally, should other questions arise, here: https://www.gaytor.rent/sendmessage.php?receiver=135714
I'm on (retired) Thailand time, about 12 hours EARLIER than the USA, so I may be "out of sync", so to speak.

Take care,
Pawpcorn
GTRU Staff

The account he deleted by accident was revived, his running ratio was transferred to the revived account, and then this most recent account (from which he made this request, both here and on the helpdesk) was banned.

SOP: Multiple accounts are merged to ONE account, and all the other accounts are banned (not "deleted")

Take care,
Pawpcorn
GTRU Staff

Thank you for the clarification.  When I read the site rules "Only one account is allowed per Internet Protocol address and user. Attempts to create multiple accounts will trigger our monitoring system that immediately terminates both accounts.", I assumed the offender was banned for life.

SOP: Multiple accounts are merged to ONE account, and all the other accounts are banned (not "deleted")

Take care,
Pawpcorn
GTRU Staff

Take care, and good luck,
Pawpcorn
GTRU Staff

On it soon!  :blind:

The helpdesk request would only end up getting forwarded to said mod anyway.