[PHP] Wondering if something is possible

[Shawn]

I have a VBulletin forum basically for parents of all ages. My idea is this. I want to make it so that when people register, it searches their name through the sexual offenders database to see if they are on it. If they are, they get blocked from the site. Is this possible?

[MentaL]

[Superfun]

I think it could be done by a plugin, custom written, but i think you can better ask that on the vbullitin community

[jMerliN]

I have a VBulletin forum basically for parents of all ages. My idea is this. I want to make it so that when people register, it searches their name through the sexual offenders database to see if they are on it. If they are, they get blocked from the site. Is this possible?

Completely useless.

One would only change their IP address, come back, and use a fake name.

But possible, yes.

[Shawn]

Completely useless.

One would only change their IP address, come back, and use a fake name.

But possible, yes.

Well, I wouldn't actually give a reason as to why they are blocked because then obviously they would use a fake name next time. I can easily say we are at full capacity or something similar. As for IP changes, I would obviously look into blocking MAC IDs if possible. I want to try and ensure that my site/forum won't be a "grocery store" for these kinds of people.

[xSilv3rbullet]

This is possible, but you'll need to write your own mod.
Does the database even have the offenders' mac addresses? O_O

[Shawn]

This is possible, but you'll need to write your own mod.
Does the database even have the offenders' mac addresses? O_O

no they don't. i'm talking about once the name registers as a sex offender, i can block the MAC address.

[Pieman]

Possible? Yes. Useful? No.

Like a sex offender would lurk a forum for parents just to find out where they live and steal/rape their child. There are much, much more easy targets.

[s-p-n]

Too many people have the same name. Unless you take their SS (for US citizens), you might get the wrong person. Don't ask for anyone's Social Security. Just tell everyone to be careful with their privacy, and try to keep them safe. The internet is never safe from weirdos.. There's a new sex offender every day. Also, some people make mistakes, so they could've done their time already, straitened up, and got on the right path. Would you deny them entry to your forum from something they did 20 years ago? Maybe..

Also, I know someone who was falsely accused of being a sex offender. It's fucked up how they treated him everywhere. They scared him into taking the deal because the threatened him with 10+ years.. There was a video and everything.. Some bullshit really..

Anyway, the point is: you never know. Don't trust anyone fully, and tell your users to do the same. Let them join, and be strict on privacy safety, it's the only way.

[jMerliN]

Too many people have the same name. Unless you take their SS (for US citizens), you might get the wrong person. Don't ask for anyone's Social Security. Just tell everyone to be careful with their privacy, and try to keep them safe. The internet is never safe from weirdos.. There's a new sex offender every day. Also, some people make mistakes, so they could've done their time already, straitened up, and got on the right path. Would you deny them entry to your forum from something they did 20 years ago? Maybe..

Also, I know someone who was falsely accused of being a sex offender. It's fucked up how they treated him everywhere. They scared him into taking the deal because the threatened him with 10+ years.. There was a video and everything.. Some bullshit really..

Anyway, the point is: you never know. Don't trust anyone fully, and tell your users to do the same. Let them join, and be strict on privacy safety, it's the only way.

Also, what if a 19 yr old guy had sex with his 17 year old gf of 3+ years and the parents filed charges and he was made a "sex offender" although they got married 2 years later and now have kiddos on the way and want to join his forum. Now the guy's a sex offender but isn't a weirdo in any way and necessarily belongs to that community.

The "sex offenders" list is horribly inaccurate at determining whether or not someone is a violent offender or even any threat at all. It should be abolished towards something more transparent like being able to see the past violent crimes of ANYONE, including sexual crimes like rape, etc.

[Shawn]

Too many people have the same name. Unless you take their SS (for US citizens), you might get the wrong person. Don't ask for anyone's Social Security. Just tell everyone to be careful with their privacy, and try to keep them safe. The internet is never safe from weirdos.. There's a new sex offender every day. Also, some people make mistakes, so they could've done their time already, straitened up, and got on the right path. Would you deny them entry to your forum from something they did 20 years ago? Maybe..

Also, I know someone who was falsely accused of being a sex offender. It's fucked up how they treated him everywhere. They scared him into taking the deal because the threatened him with 10+ years.. There was a video and everything.. Some bullshit really..

Anyway, the point is: you never know. Don't trust anyone fully, and tell your users to do the same. Let them join, and be strict on privacy safety, it's the only way.

Ok, I can agree on that. Perhaps it would be better just to go about it that way. Thank you guys for your responses.