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Tell HN: Reddit now blocks VPN access via browser, 'old' subdomain included

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Re: Tell HN: Reddit now blocks VPN access via browser, 'old' subdomain included

#41

Post by thih9 »

keepamovin wrote: post #7
thih9 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Edit: parent commenter seems to be promoting their product. Looks like a random remote browser, perhaps avoid entering important credentials there. Didn't work for me. I tried creating an account[1] moments ago; after filling out the form and submitting, I got back: "an error occurred (status: 403)". [1]: https://old.reddit.com/login/

OK, I don't know. Did you try just visiting some random reddit website from the remote browser I provided? edit: I just tried again on a fresh CloudTabs browser and I could successfully create an account and sign in to reddit. So this does work! What did you try? I think it might matter how you arrive at reddit. Try going through the address bar search to a sub you like, rather than pasting in a direct "login to redd…

My setup doesn’t include a remote browser and I’d prefer not to add one.

I listed what I’m using - safari desktop, nordvpn, the sign up link that I checked is in the grandparent comment. This worked earlier for me, now it doesn’t.

Re: Tell HN: Reddit now blocks VPN access via browser, 'old' subdomain included

#42

Post by zeta0134 »

0cVlTeIATBs wrote: post #27

That's the final blow for me. The last use case was when esoteric discussion there would be one of the few search engine results. I've already long ago edited out all my old posts and deleted the accounts. So sad to see sites grow to become gated advertiser-friendly communities.

As an aside, I get irritated as all heck by the old, previously useful reddit threads that now show up in search results but with the actually useful information deleted by someone in a fit of rage. This is frustrating, since the information is not necessarily easy to find somewhere else. Or at all.

If you find that you must do this, could you at least re-host your answers elsewhere and link to them?

Re: Tell HN: Reddit now blocks VPN access via browser, 'old' subdomain included

#44

Post by eviks »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #35
mfiro wrote: post #19

It's been a while that VPNs were blocked on the main website. But I have noticed this since a week that old.reddit.com subdomain has been included. The next step for Reddit would be a complete Login wall like Instagram and co. I would be happy if they do, because it will save my time more (like twitter).

> I would be happy if they do, because it will save my time more (like twitter). Why is that? If you don't have enough self-control to not use Reddit, a login wall won't stop you.

Or it will since self control is not a binary, so more barriers can reduce use

Re: Tell HN: Reddit now blocks VPN access via browser, 'old' subdomain included

#47

Post by BadHumans »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #35
mfiro wrote: post #19

It's been a while that VPNs were blocked on the main website. But I have noticed this since a week that old.reddit.com subdomain has been included. The next step for Reddit would be a complete Login wall like Instagram and co. I would be happy if they do, because it will save my time more (like twitter).

> I would be happy if they do, because it will save my time more (like twitter). Why is that? If you don't have enough self-control to not use Reddit, a login wall won't stop you.

This is very wrong. One of the most studied ways of breaking bad habits is by introducing friction. Nothing stops me from getting in my car and going to McDonalds but that is a lot of friction. It's easier to just stay home and cook something I have.

Re: Tell HN: Reddit now blocks VPN access via browser, 'old' subdomain included

#48

Post by soraminazuki »

TomSwirly wrote: post #5
keepamovin wrote: post #2

This is IP based blocking. You can get around it by creating a Reddit account, or logging in. I Just did that on my remote browser app, the demo of which is here: https://puter.com/app/cloudtabs-browserbox If you read past the "Woah, there pardner." You'll see a paragraph that says, Try logging in or creating an account here to get back to browsing. This works. You can use reddit if you just create an account or sign…

> "Woah, there pardner." Cutesie error messages aren't funny even the first time, and by the tenth time they are wildly annoying. > if you just create an account "Just"

Agreed, surrendering our privacy is anything but "just."

Re: Tell HN: Reddit now blocks VPN access via browser, 'old' subdomain included

#50

Post by lxgr »

zeta0134 wrote: post #42
0cVlTeIATBs wrote: post #27

That's the final blow for me. The last use case was when esoteric discussion there would be one of the few search engine results. I've already long ago edited out all my old posts and deleted the accounts. So sad to see sites grow to become gated advertiser-friendly communities.

As an aside, I get irritated as all heck by the old, previously useful reddit threads that now show up in search results but with the actually useful information deleted by someone in a fit of rage. This is frustrating, since the information is not necessarily easy to find somewhere else. Or at all. If you find that you must do this, could you at least re-host your answers elsewhere and link to them?

Yes, this is incredibly frustrating.

I wonder if we've surpassed "peak publicly searchable discussion". It definitely seems harder to find quick answers to obscure topics than it used to be 2-3 years ago.

LLMs will gladly hallucinate something, but given that this stuff is literally the training data that could help ground them in truth, I wonder where we're going to go next.

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