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I'd like to look into the user experience of being question/answer banned for a bit, but I'd like to do so without jeopardizing the standing of my main account. Knitting some socks for this is risky, though, as the account will inevitably be associated with my main account.

Is there a way to do this safely? And, is this something Stack Exchange would even be okay with?

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  • 6
    Behind a proxy? Use Tor?! (New acc)
    – shad0w_wa1k3r
    Dec 15, 2013 at 17:42
  • 6
    Out of curiosity, what are you looking to test? Are you looking to see how hard/easy it is to get unbanned?
    – psubsee2003
    Dec 15, 2013 at 17:44
  • 3
    @psub Yes, but this is more a matter of the general user experience, and that is a subset of it.
    – user206222
    Dec 15, 2013 at 17:45
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    @Emracool you realize that it probably would be far easier for you to get unbanned since you are already capable of writing a good question.... but I've often wondered the same as well, just not enough to be willing to get banned intentionally, so good luck.
    – psubsee2003
    Dec 15, 2013 at 17:47
  • Is there anything you'd like to know that is not already covered by this question and the answer by Shog? meta.stackexchange.com/questions/172300/…
    – Bart
    Dec 15, 2013 at 17:53
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    @Bart Eh, it's interesting, but it doesn't actually speak to the complete user experience. Thanks, though!
    – user206222
    Dec 15, 2013 at 17:59
  • @psub That is true, 'twould probably be easier for me. But the degree of actual contribution is about the same, so I'd at least get an idea for that. Plus, that's not all there is in UX, so I still think it would be interesting.
    – user206222
    Dec 15, 2013 at 18:00
  • I wonder how much of a user experience you're going to get though @Emracool. You'd have to actively post bad content. I.e. you're not stumbling into anything. And getting out of it would be more trivial for you since you're already aware of what's good and what's bad.
    – Bart
    Dec 15, 2013 at 18:00
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    @Bart I think there would be more to be learned than you think, but I cannot really disagree with you, since, as I haven't been banned, I can't speak to the process
    – user206222
    Dec 15, 2013 at 18:02
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    I've been banned on MSO a couple of times. What do you want to know?
    – GUI Junkie
    Dec 15, 2013 at 20:02
  • @GUI The only question I have currently is: is it possible to the type a question in even when you're banned? So that you go to submit, only to find out you can't. That's all I know to ask without actually experiencing it.
    – user206222
    Dec 15, 2013 at 20:47
  • No, if I recall correctly, you are redirected to a html page stating you're banned when you click on 'Ask Question'
    – GUI Junkie
    Dec 16, 2013 at 14:11
  • From a user experience point of view, it's a nightmare, as the html is a text of a link... not even clickable.
    – GUI Junkie
    Dec 16, 2013 at 14:14
  • @GUI Hmm, thanks... I'm curious, how long ago was your ban? If you don't mind me asking details, of course.
    – user206222
    Dec 16, 2013 at 19:49
  • Not at all, I was banned in June 2011, rescued by Jeff, banned again, rescued again, banned again... for making user experience proposals. Basically.
    – GUI Junkie
    Dec 17, 2013 at 15:40

1 Answer 1

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You risk having the banned accounts deleted, merged into your main account, or suspended. You risk having your main account suspended or merged into a sockpuppet account. You risk triggering automatic blocks or rate-limits on any of your accounts or IPs or other accounts that share those IPs.

Not saying any of this will happen, but... Be aware of the risks. If you're intentionally planning on doing the sorts of things that might get an account banned, there's a somewhat higher chance of this ending badly than for a normal "just testing" sockpuppet...

See also:

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  • 13
    Not saying we will shoot you if you cross this fence just saying we might. It's a possibility ;)
    – Benjamin Gruenbaum
    Dec 15, 2013 at 19:21
  • You do know you can get around the auto IP ban with Tor.
    – Cole Tobin
    Dec 15, 2013 at 19:44
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    You do know you can ban Tor IPs too. @Cole
    – Shog9
    Dec 15, 2013 at 19:46
  • @Shog9 "get new identity"
    – Cole Tobin
    Dec 15, 2013 at 19:48
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    The problem with anonymity isn't that it isn't possible; it's that you have to be really committed to getting it. @Cole. I'm not gonna tell people, "Do X and you're safe from Y" when X implies a lot of work they may not be willing to go through and Y is something I'd rather folks weren't doing anyway. If you feel like you have to ask permission to do something, you may not be well-equipped to accomplish it successfully without that permission...
    – Shog9
    Dec 15, 2013 at 19:52
  • @Shog9 fair enough
    – Cole Tobin
    Dec 15, 2013 at 19:59
  • I mean, I could do it that way, @Cole, I just wondered if there was a better/safer way. I tend not to follow "better to ask forgiveness than permission" whenever reasonable.
    – user206222
    Dec 15, 2013 at 20:49
  • So the short answer is "no".
    – Shadow Wizard Is Sad And Angry
    Dec 15, 2013 at 23:19

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