# Does this place not accept email address from certain domains or something? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 26, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929 "2015-01-26T16:27:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thegoodnamesweretaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@thegoodnamesweretaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thegoodnamesweretaken)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/1 "2015-01-26T16:27:25Z")
Hi, I tried signing up with my real email address (####@gmx.com), and got told that “The administrator has banned your email address. You will need to change your email address in order to continue”. I’ve never signed up here before, so the only explanation I can come up with is that every email that uses GMX is banned. Is this the case? Why? If not, why _was_ my email banned? I ended up just using a disposable email service to sign up, but of course that now means I won’t be able to retrieve my account if I forgot my password or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/2 "2015-01-26T17:21:54Z")
There also exist the possibilities that your #### prefix either spells a naughty word or is the same as the prefix of a previously-banned poster. The first is not likely and the latter is merely unfortunate. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/3 "2015-01-26T17:26:01Z")
It’s also possible (from all we know) that the username portion of your e-mail address contained something that tripped a profanity filter. What’s GMX? If the board has gotten a very large number of problem users from there, and few or no legitimate users, that might also account for a ban. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/4 "2015-01-26T17:30:11Z")
Certain domains and IP ranges are banned because we’ve had excessive problems with them in the past. I don’t have access to the list of these so I can’t personally tell you whether or not [gmx.com](http://gmx.com) is on the list or not. You can’t use a throwaway e-mail address here. You are required to keep a valid e-mail address in case we need to contact you. From the SDMB Registration Agreement: > [@](#): > > You are required to submit and maintain a valid e-mail address. If you do not wish to receive e-mail from other SDMB users you may so indicate in your user profile. However, we retain your e-mail address in our database and reserve the right to have SDMB staff contact you. We won’t give or sell your e-mail address to bulk mailers, brokers, or similar entities. There are plenty of free e-mail providers (gmail, yahoo, etc) that you can use. ---
**Author:** ![thegoodnamesweretaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@thegoodnamesweretaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thegoodnamesweretaken)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/5 "2015-01-26T18:05:13Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > There also exist the possibilities that your #### prefix either spells a naughty word or is the same as the prefix of a previously-banned poster. The first is not likely and the latter is merely unfortunate. I just tried something nonsense like [gosndgovnvof@gmx.com](mailto:gosndgovnvof@gmx.com) and it also said it was banned, so unfortunately it is just all GMX emails that have been banned. ---
**Author:** ![thegoodnamesweretaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@thegoodnamesweretaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thegoodnamesweretaken)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/6 "2015-01-26T18:08:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s also possible (from all we know) that the username portion of your e-mail address contained something that tripped a profanity filter. > > What’s GMX? If the board has gotten a very large number of problem users from there, and few or no legitimate users, that might also account for a ban. From what I gather, it’s one of the most common email providers in Germany (where it’s based). I’m not from Germany though, I just chose it because I like how it’s _just_ an email service, unlike most other services, where you’re also signing up for other stuff (for example, you’re not really signing up for Gmail, you’re signing up for YouTube, Google Drive, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![thegoodnamesweretaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@thegoodnamesweretaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thegoodnamesweretaken)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/7 "2015-01-26T18:13:44Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Certain domains and IP ranges are banned because we’ve had excessive problems with them in the past. I don’t have access to the list of these so I can’t personally tell you whether or not [gmx.com](http://gmx.com) is on the list or not. > > You can’t use a throwaway e-mail address here. You are required to keep a valid e-mail address in case we need to contact you. > > From the SDMB Registration Agreement: > There are plenty of free e-mail providers (gmail, yahoo, etc) that you can use. Well, that seems like a good way to drive away users. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to go through the hassle of creating another email address just so I can post on a message board. Also, what do you mean by “excessive problems”? Spambots? Trolls? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/8 "2015-01-26T18:21:00Z")
> [@thegoodnamesweretaken](#): > > I just tried something nonsense like [gosndgovnvof@gmx.com](mailto:gosndgovnvof@gmx.com) and it also said it was banned, so unfortunately it is just all GMX emails that have been banned. It may also have recognized that your IP address is being used by **thegoodnamesweretaken** and it got blocked as an attempt to create a sock puppet. I recommend you stop testing this… ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/9 "2015-01-27T00:36:10Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > You can’t use a throwaway e-mail address here. SNIP > [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > There are plenty of free e-mail providers (gmail, yahoo, etc) that you can use. Free email is throwaway, I’ve made throwaway gmail accounts several times (not for here, mind you). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/10 "2015-01-27T00:44:13Z")
Free e-mail isn’t throwaway if you keep on using it. Using a throwaway account isn’t something the software can automatically detect (at least, not without occasionally sending you an e-mail and getting confirmation that you received it, which would get obnoxious fast), but it is still against the rules. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/11 "2015-01-27T01:11:31Z")
> [@thegoodnamesweretaken](#): > > Well, that seems like a good way to drive away users. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to go through the hassle of creating another email address just so I can post on a message board. > > Also, what do you mean by “excessive problems”? Spambots? Trolls? Of course, you _just did_ create another email address so you could complain about this. How do you square that with your stated intent? Yes, [gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr](http://gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr) are banned. Your move. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/12 "2015-01-27T02:12:55Z")
Wait… **samclem** gets to see the list of banned domains, but **engineer\_comp\_geek** doesn’t? Are all moderators not created equal? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/13 "2015-01-27T02:17:57Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Of course, you _just did_ create another email address so you could complain about this. How do you square that with your stated intent? > > Yes, [gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr](http://gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr) are banned. > > Your move. You sound kind of Jack Bootie there, Sam. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/14 "2015-01-27T02:41:33Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Of course, you _just did_ create another email address so you could complain about this. How do you square that with your stated intent? > > Yes, [gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr](http://gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr) are banned. > > Your move. In 13 years I have never complained about one of the mods on this board. What you said was not welcoming, or nice. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/15 "2015-01-27T03:01:49Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Yes, [gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr](http://gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr) are banned. Why? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/16 "2015-01-27T04:00:01Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Wait… **samclem** gets to see the list of banned domains, but **engineer\_comp\_geek** doesn’t? Are all moderators not created equal? Believe me when I say he’s the second coming of Marley. He’s a bit newer than I. He would have found it sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/17 "2015-01-27T14:37:06Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Wait… **samclem** gets to see the list of banned domains, but **engineer\_comp\_geek** doesn’t? Are all moderators not created equal? I’m here for the content. I leave the geeky stuff for others. 😃 > [@TBG](#): > > SNIP > > Free email is throwaway, I’ve made throwaway gmail accounts several times (not for here, mind you). By throwaway it means an account you use solely for the purposes of signing up here but never use or check again. It is not against the rules to create an account just to sign up here as long as it is one that can be used to contact you if needed. When I became a mod I made a new email account strictly for here because it’s easier than wading through all the junk in my main email account to see reports and such for here. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/18 "2015-01-27T14:44:11Z")
> [@thegoodnamesweretaken](#): > > Well, that seems like a good way to drive away users. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to go through the hassle of creating another email address just so I can post on a message board. > > Also, what do you mean by “excessive problems”? Spambots? Trolls? Right above this thread there is a sticky dealing with this subject. Many of your questions may be answered there. ---
**Author:** ![thegoodnamesweretaken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@thegoodnamesweretaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thegoodnamesweretaken)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/19 "2015-01-27T16:00:15Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Of course, you _just did_ create another email address so you could complain about this. How do you square that with your stated intent? > > Yes, [gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr](http://gmx.com/gmx.us/gmx.fr) are banned. > > Your move. I used [10 minute mail](http://10minutemail.com/10MinuteMail/index.html), where all you have to do is copy the email address they give you and that’s it. I’m not going to make up a name, password, email address and date of birth, nor am I going to fill in a captcha, and I’m definitely not going to give them my mobile number. Why is it banned? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929/20 "2015-01-27T16:10:38Z")
> [@thegoodnamesweretaken](#): > > I used [10 minute mail](http://10minutemail.com/10MinuteMail/index.html), where all you have to do is copy the email address they give you and that’s it. I’m not going to make up a name, password, email address and date of birth, nor am I going to fill in a captcha, and I’m definitely not going to give them my mobile number. > > Why is it banned? Because it expires in ten minutes! The board requires you to have a _permanent_ e-mail address. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-place-not-accept-email-address-from-certain-domains-or-something/710929.md?page=2)