Should FreeRepublic be closed to anyone w/o an account on election day/night?

11-5-12 | Arcy

[Arcy]

On ELECTION NIGHT, Free Republic could help it's members by preventing access to the site by anyone who does not have a valid log-in and password.

It would also be adventageous to prevent the creation of new accounts on FR (starting now) until after the election to keep out the liberals who will certainly come here to explode in anger as elction results come in.

I've noticed in elections past that DU does not allow access to even VIEW their site during elections unless you have an account. We should do the same!

[skeeter]

Let em come.

Win or lose we'll kick their ass.

[Admin Moderator]

It would also be adventageous to prevent the creation of new accounts on FR (starting now) until after the election to keep out the liberals who will certainly come here to explode in anger as elction results come in.

New users have their submissions reviewed by moderators prior to them being posted.

[Lazamataz]

To accomplish this, you would need to install a complete authentication layer, complete with session-id checking to prevent backdoor access.

So, let us see, we have approximately 36 hours.

Figure, 3 hours on design, 16 hours on coding, 4 hours testing, 4 hours corrections, 3 hours user acceptance testing, 3 hours implementation, 3 hours production testing.

WE HAVE *JUST* ENOUGH TIME! How's your Perl under Linux?

[OldMissileer]

I do not think it would be a good idea even though I am a monthly donor. Writing that, I think I probably will not be able to reach FR due to overload and have to get my updates elsewhere.

I really wish we could get the problems fixed. FR is most important during these times. I am quite addicted to FR and would like to see easy access, especially during these times.

[Eye of Unk]

I think FR should implement an emergency wartime footing stance, if nothing else it will be a trial runm to see if it keeps FR up and running.

Allow only a dozen or so threads al election themed, nothing else all day long, all election thtreeads will only last two hours our a set amount of replies, any multiple reply posters will immediately have to wait no less than 30 minutes before they can post again, if the continue to make duplicate posts the are zotted.

seriously this is important, we need to get serious because playing fair and nice doesn’t always win the game.

[nuconvert]

so, you’re saying that upgrading screwed things up?

[Arcy]

I’ve hosted websites before, both on my own servers and with hosting companys. The TEMPORARY election night changes I’m suggesting are VERY EASY to employ. It can be done in less than 5-minutes!

[Lazamataz]

Yeah, but see my message just below yours. I mean, it's PERFECTLY reasonable to install a complete and tested Authentication model in 36 hours, right?

And to do it a day before the election -- BRILLIANT!!!!

What could POSSIBLY go wrong??!?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Could it technically be done?

[nkronos]

“I’ve noticed in elections past that DU does not allow access to even VIEW their site during elections unless you have an account. We should do the same!”

Why? Why imitate the losers at DU?

I like the idea of keeping page-load times down, but otherwise, this seems like a bad idea. It indicates a lack of confidence. If Romney is winning—especially big—why would FR need the “protection”?

[Safrguns]

I like the idea

[Founding Father]

BRAVO! BRAVO!

[theDentist]

Well, we know it'll be a very busy day and evening, so for bandwadth and system sake, maybe so, and that'd be JimRob & Assoc call.

But it seems like censorship to me, which is more DU's province. I'd vote no.

[Arcy]

You need to understand that server resources responding to new account creation is taking bandwidth that could be used for current members!

[onyx]

Well, there’s your solution!

Start your own website!

[Arcy]

I’ve done it before on sites that I’ve hosted and it’s nowhere near the complicated process you’ve outlined. I can do it in 5-minutes flat!

[Lazamataz]

I’ve hosted websites before, both on my own servers and with hosting companys. The TEMPORARY election night changes I’m suggesting are VERY EASY to employ. It can be done in less than 5-minutes!

Alllllright sparky. You are on.

I design and maintain websites for a living. Federal ones. Done commercial for decades, as well.

Explain to me, in detail, just what you propose to do at the authentication level, that can be done 'in five minutes'....Let us assume no authorisation concerns. Admin Mod and JimRob will not be in issue as part of your model. I'm willing to cut that slack, just to hear this 'five minute fix'..... :)

(this I gotta hear)

[TomGuy]

Should FreeRepublic be closed to anyone w/o an account on election day/night?

That won't matter. FR will chug down to a crawl by tomorrow afternoon and stall out by 7pm ET.

FR has been sputtering since Hillary Clinton gave her concession speech in the 2008 Dem primary.

Two early telethons raised money for new equipment. That fund still has money, so 'equipment' doesn't seem to be the problem. That would seem to leave program software or Internet backbone.

FR has had serious stalling problems since the primary debates.

Best best -- bookmark some of the alternative sites.

[mmichaels1970]

so, you’re saying that upgrading screwed things up?

No. I'm just saying in the IT world that upgrading USUALLY screws things up. I have no idea about FR's software or backbone.

Post was more of a dig at myself..whenever I fix something, I tend break ten other things. I don't feel so bad though, Microsoft does the same thing with every OS release.

[JPG]

Right on’s! I agre.