Outside the Beltway

Site Maintenance Update: Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Whoever you are, please stop trying to register clearly fake accounts.

Matt Bernius · Monday, August 25, 2025 · 4 comments

As the current look of OTB suggests, we are still trying to get to the bottom of what keeps knocking our web server offline. And since challenges love to invite their friends to the party, we’ve noticed a second issue: scam user registrations. Over the past few hours we’ve gotten an influx of new users who are setting off the “SUS-sense” as I’m told the kids say now a days (is Among Us still a thing).

Here’s an example of recent new subscribers:

The interest in joining the conversation from people in Russia (ru) and Germany (de) is already a flag. Then there’s the fact the names they are providing clearly don’t match the names within their email.

We’ve had a few repeat trolls in the past who’ve used this strategy in the past. If by chance this is you, I will again restate that we don’t allow people who used spoofed email addresses to post or create accounts.

That said, chances are this is just “the price of doing business online” and these are being created to enable SPAM postings.

Either way, this is being nipped in the bud. Moving forward any new commenter account will need to be approved by myself or the other hosts. I wish we didn’t have to do it, but like I said, this is why we cannot have nice things.

If you think your account was accidentally deactivated or has gotten stuck in review, please email us.