Should I just block the entire middle east?

[MrMax]

In the past 2 years, I've had 3 members who have posted "very very bad" pics in their profile, the worst kind you can post.
These members were all from the middle east, I guess its legal there.

Im completely freaked out by it and come to think of it, they never buy a membership (I dont think they use credit cards) and guys from Iran and around there just cause fights with other members and antagonize them.
Im kind of over it and just want to block them all.
is there any reason why I shouldn't?
I just want to ask other webmasters before I do it.

[gaydemon]

Why not? In most of those countries homosexuality is illegal (even punishable by death) besides I can't see much traffic coming from them.

I've not blocked anything myself on my sites, but if they keep causing you hassle why keep them on there when there is no benefit from them?

[gumdrop]

Just send them else where...check out my signature below:

[MatthewVieques]

block, that region does not convert.

[tim]

I think you have plenty good reason to block them, also from what Bjorn said.

I'm not a paysite owner, but maybe this might give you some support. Sponsors's affiliate terms not infrequently include requirements to block a lot more countries than that. I don't think anyone realizes this or does it. In fact, one major well known sponsor also requires affiliates not to do business with 50 to 100 US zip codes. If that's in their affiliate terms, maybe they are blocking lots of places. So your blocking a few countries that only give you hassles is nothing. Sounds smart to be honest.

[basschick]

might as well block those countries. porn is illegal, homosexuality is illegal, so for them there's no reason not to post "very very bad" pics - for them, it's all illegal.

[amadmedia]

we use geo blocking. we have japan, china, middle east, india, mexico, and africa blocked. We blocked china because 1 of 2 joins are chargebacks. All but one chargebacks have originated from China.
In Iraq, they do have credit cards or some form of payment because we did have one member who joined from there and we chose to block because he was a nasty bitch who just complained about everything, literally everything. One of his complaints was the video runtime was 32 minutes. He felt it should have been 30 minutes. (It was a gang bang). WTF.

[Tube4Gay]

define "very very bad"

[dzinerbear]

define "very very bad"

Yeah, what he said.

[GoldBarsxxx]

I wouldn't block the golf region. Everyone else: Block'em.

[dannyz]

we have japan blocked

We can convert that traffic for you. ;-)

We have Japanese language versions of all our tours. Japanese surfers are automatically redirected to these tours with Geo IP, keeping you affiliate code intact, and they are some of our best converting customers. Hit me up if you want me to help you make money from that traffic!

[pocoloco]

It depends on your definition of the Middle East.

Some say the Middle East are the countries around the Gulf as well as Israel and the countries around Israel, while others would think of the Middle East as the Gulf Region, North/East Africa, Caucasus, Central Asia, South-West Asia and even some Mediterrenean countries.

The only thing I like about NATS4, is that it shows you from which countries sales are coming. I was amazed with some of the countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Armenia, Lebanon, U.A.E, Libya).

If you block the so-called Greater Middle East, I think you're blocking potential buyers.

[GayGeek]

In my book, The Male Escort's Handbook, I wrote something to the effect of:

"5% of your clients will cause 95% of your stress and 2% of your income. Get rid of those clients and you'll be a lot happier for it."

I was referring to escorting, but I think the same applies to porn sites as well. If you've got a client or category of clients causing you significant problems, get rid of them and you'll be a lot better off for it.

I dislike the idea of generalizing an entire region of the world for blacklisting from a porn site, but if the simply truth is that people from that region are causing problems (fraud, chargebacks, etc.) then get rid of 'em.

I would not, however, judge an entire country based on a single incident (such as the asshole from Iraq -- there are plenty of people from the US who behave that was as well).

[Adam Mason]

Indeed, I've had plenty of sales over the years from Russia, China, the middle east, Japan - and I've never seen those areas as a problem for fraud. 99% of my chargebacks are from the US and the UK (but so are the bulk of my sales). I certainly haven't seen my rebilling members from Russia, Qatar, Iraq etc behave in any bad way.

But every site is different and only you can make the decision about which surfers you are happy to deal with.

[archer]

once upon a time i read that most of the traffic(&$$$) for Israel's local porn sites was from the surrounding arab countries.

in those countries gay sex may be illegal but then so is straight sex!:D everyone needs an outlet!

[Tanker]

I wouldnt block them I would redirect them to a program that understands how to bill these sales

[basschick]

seems like most of the advice is about porn sites, but the site in question is a hookup site for mature men and their admirers. do any of you know of any hookup sites that pay for joins from those countries?

[mountequinox]

In the past 2 years, I've had 3 members who have posted "very very bad" pics in their profile, the worst kind you can post.
These members were all from the middle east, I guess its legal there.

Im completely freaked out by it and come to think of it, they never buy a membership (I dont think they use credit cards) and guys from Iran and around there just cause fights with other members and antagonize them.
Im kind of over it and just want to block them all.
is there any reason why I shouldn't?
I just want to ask other webmasters before I do it.

Sorry to dig up a post from the past but this goes along with a post (http://www.gaydemon.biz/showthread.php?18438-China-IP-s-Causing-Me-Headaches!&highlight=block+china) I recently posted that never really got an answer.

(MrMax) what was your final decision? Did you block everyone from the middle east and if so can you tell me how you did it?

If you didn't can you tell me how you planned to or for others who state they block (amadmedia) can you share how you do so?

From time to time I have a problem with IP's from China and would just like to block them. Does anyone have any advice on how to block an entire country?

I have seen multiple threads here with people saying they block certain countries but no details as to how they do it?

http://www.gaydemon.biz/showthread.php?6096-Is-country-blocking-smart-thing&highlight=block+china
http://www.gaydemon.biz/showthread.php?9185-Blocking-Country-IPs&highlight=block+china
http://www.gaydemon.biz/showthread.php?6930-Best-way-to-block-a-country/page2&highlight=block+china

No one really specifies how they blocked specific countries. Many said they do but no info as to how.. A few mentioned having your host do it but my host won't do it unless I pay them to do it..

(HunkMoneyLuke) suggested http://www.maxmind.com/app/geoip_country but to me it looks like a fancy module that does no more than an a rule based file for httpd.conf? Obviously httpd.conf is much more efficient than individual .htaccess files but doesn't this still let the IP connect to the server?

I'm thinking more along the lines of blocking via firewall (currently using CSF). No access to the machine or it's resources? But, from what I have read entering entire country blocks such as China into your routing tables may have an impact on performance for the server..

So either way it appears to be an issue whether via firewall or apache they both have their drawbacks..

How are you guys actually implementing this country based blocking?

Thanks,
Kevin.

[Titanmen]

Why would you block Japan??


we use geo blocking. we have japan, china, middle east, india, mexico, and africa blocked. We blocked china because 1 of 2 joins are chargebacks. All but one chargebacks have originated from China.
In Iraq, they do have credit cards or some form of payment because we did have one member who joined from there and we chose to block because he was a nasty bitch who just complained about everything, literally everything. One of his complaints was the video runtime was 32 minutes. He felt it should have been 30 minutes. (It was a gang bang). WTF.

[scuba steve]

block middle east