Re: Are the GCC lists intended to be open lists?

[Christopher Faylor <cgf at redhat dot com>]

On Wed, Jan 16, 2002 at 11:20:31AM -0500, Christopher Faylor wrote:
>On Wed, Jan 16, 2002 at 11:11:28AM -0500, David Edelsohn wrote:
>>>>>>> Paul Koning writes:
>>
>>Paul> In particular, the list policy explicitly states that it blacklists a
>>Paul> large block of addresses of Sprint customers, on the grounds that the
>>Paul> list manager has some gripe with Sprint.  (Note: he didn't block
>>Paul> Sprint -- he blacklisted third parties who happen to use the "wrong"
>>Paul> ISP.) 
>>
>>The explanation on the 510 group website for the Sprint policy is:
>>
>>"NOTE: we are currently listing large blocks of Sprint address space
>>for their failure to remove the DNS server at 65.174.218.253 which is
>>being used by Ralsky to support running spamvertised sites on a variety
>>of dialup links.  If you get connectivity thru Sprint, you might want
>>to call your sales representative and complain.  Sprint won't listen to
>>non-customers; perhaps they will listen to their customers."
>>
>>We can debate whether that policy is going too far, but that is more
>>than "some gripe" with Sprint.  If you are going to complain, present
>>all the facts.
>
>The other fact is that if you find yourself blocked by the gcc.gnu.org
>spam blocking software, it's easy to add yourself to a global allow list.
>
>This is what I did for Paul Koning after I noticed that he was being
>blocked yesterday.  I sent him email informing him of that fact and
>indicated how he could unblock himself in the future.
>
>After receiving my message, he tried to unblock himself using the method
>that I outlined, apparently doing so from another account, which
>required moderator approval.
>
>I had been operating under the assumption that the bounce message that
>people get when they are caught by an RBL outlined the method for
>removing yourself from the 

Sorry.  To continue...

removing yourself from the spam blocker but that was not the case.
We've since changed the words on the web page and in the bounce message.

FWIW, I've given up and removed this RBL from the group of services
employed on gcc.gnu.org/sources.redhat.com.  The service was really only
intended for the customers of 510 Software, although it was generously
available for outside use, too.  I didn't want to increase the number of
complaints in this guy's inbox so I removed blackholes.five-ten-sg.com
from the list of RBL's that are checked for spam.

It was doing a good job at catching spam which was not caught by the other
services, but, of course, it caught a few more non-spammers, too.  Since
you aren't blocked from posting if you're subscribed, I thought that
the hit rate on valid email would be really low.  It wasn't as low as I
thought it would be, though, which is another reason for removing this
service.

cgf