Sticky: Official "Slow Down" error thread - Updated Sept. 11

[carbonphyber]

Official "Slow Down" error thread
So you are a legitimate user and you started to experience a frustrating "Slow Down" error which makes you wait for a cool down period before you can continue using the site...

I'm here to try and figure out what is going on.

Please help me help you:

• let me know when the first time (date and time of day) you experienced the issue (please be exact as you can)
  
• were you on a specific part of the site or does it seem to happen everywhere?
  
• collect URLs to all reported cases (threads, petitions, etc) and PMing me the URLs replying to this thread with the URLs
  
• Please also let us know the name and full version of your browser and a complete list of add-ons and extensions (in FireFox you can see this by looking at the "Add-ons window\" under the "Tools" menu).

I've asked that this issue be escalated so I can get some help troubleshooting the issue.

I'll see what I can do about resetting the cool-off times (that would only cure a symptom and not the problem). I don't know if I can do it right away because it might erase the only data I have to troubleshoot at this time.

This is a sticky so please don't spam this thread with "bumps" or arguments or complaints; informational posts only please. We know this issue is frustrating and we're trying to find out what's wrong so we can fix it.

Update! (August 11, 2009)
Here's what we've come up with so far:
The users who have been flagged as "page refreshers" and scripters appeared to have a giant peak of site usage over the course of one day _and_ have told us they had a 3rd party toolbar installed (almost all of them are/were using FireFox).

Also, we can not support 3rd party toolbars. If your account is warned, banned, or you lose your trading pass due to the malfunction of a third party browser add-on, you are technically in violation of the ToS.
A Mod has full discretion to decide what to do with your account.

On the bright side, I've made the "Slow Down Buddy" checker a little more lenient so users aren't likely to see that message unless they are really abusing the site.

Update! (August 13, 2009)
Warnings are down to almost none (compared to before). I'm "unsticky"ing this thread.
We were able to modify the Treasure Chest code so it doesn't count against a user.

The warning message will stay (it's there to prevent bots and we aren't going to remove it).
If you are a heavy user of the site, please try and practice moderation when you use the site.

Please keep replying if you get a "Slow Down Buddy" warning immediately (within 1-2 minutes) after login.

Update! (Sept. 09, 2009)

Navino and Deathly Dreamer

Skype recently updated their extension(s). This is causing an issue with Google, Facebook, Myspace, and other Ajax using websites.

Navino and Deathly Dreamer have identified a likely culprit for some users' "Slow Down Buddy" warnings (and some trading pass disables too).

If you have the any of theseSkype / eBay / "The Browser Highlighter" browser "add-ons" or "extensions" installed for any browser on any computer you use, you might be spamming our servers. Please disable and/or uninstall them for a few weeks to protect your account from being identified as a bot (which you technically are if you are running these add-ons).

Instructions for Windows:
http://www.west-wind.com/Weblog/posts/871907.aspx

Reviews suggest that this add-on is installed when users click "accept" in the Skype (either the application or the browser add-on) update prompt:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/reviews/display/11808

Update! (Sept. 11, 2009)

One of the admins created this Support page:
https://www.gaiaonlinehelp.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=5694&task=knowledge&questionID=628

Support Article

What could happen to my account if I don't uninstall these add-ons?
It's possible that your trades could be disabled or that your account could be banned as a result. If you believe this has happened, please report your issue to a Gaia Moderator for investigation. Please note, the Gaia Mod will have to report your issue, they will not conduct the investigation on their own. Your patience is appreciated.

[carbonphyber]

Threads I know about:
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/slow-down-error/t.52709857_1/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/slow-down-warning/t.52634681/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/grrrrrrrrrrrrrr-help/t.53096761/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/going-too-fast/t.53075291/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/entire-site-critical-error-too-many-page-loads/t.53072655/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/page-redirection/t.53068483/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/i-m-seriously-getting-aggravated-with-this-site/t.53070641/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/whoa-slow-down-hotshot/t.53065797/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/pop-up-you-re-browsing-too-fast-mods/t.53062913/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/slow-down-bro/t.53055257/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/is-it-a-big-glitch/t.53043251/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/seriously-gaia-critical-error/t.53039839/


Threads that might be related:
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/cant-send-pms/t.53102387/
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/my-pm-timer-keeps-resetting/t.53086757/

[carbonphyber]

Reserved for suspected relevant data.
Problem started: As late as Tuesday, Aug. 04, 2009
Scope of site: any HTML page (Flash too?)
Additional symptoms: PMs could possibly be similarly affected (the 60 second PM cooldown might not work correctly)

[Sensual Soul]

I've had issues when opening up tank for booty grab. Sorry no URLs but I'll start keeping track and edit this post.

Edit:
Sorry this may not relate but I've had some issue with tanks not loading. As in there will be one or two tanks in a booty grab thread that will stay empty, no fish ect. Sometimes refreshing will fix it.
And again not sure if this relates or if its all zOMG! but we are having Init map and other Loading issues.
Not sure what the date was but the night that you guys updated the databass, that's when I started seeing these problems. I'll see if I can back track in the zOMG form. It was the night when our rings vanished again. If Qixer was here I'd say ask him when I sent the PM to him about it. I saved the PM but can't quite figure out how to get to them since the pull down for that was removed.

Edit with new info.

From the small Booty Grab window
http://www.gaiaonline.com/tank/209419/?userEnvironmentId=637135&gsiUrl=www&isInEdit=false&firstTime=&location=popUp&quality=low&version=095&graphicsServer=http://s.cdn.gaiaonline.com/images/Gaia_Flash/aquarium/&isGameActive=true

From the main window
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-aquarium/tappatappatappa-30-pgs-of-grab-summer-event-starts-arts/t.51006083_376/

Screen shot:
http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95/1nova1/1-13.jpg

[carbonphyber]

Sensual Soul - thanks for the report. Please make sure to take note of the URL you are trying when you get the "Slow Down" error.

I've been seeing symptoms of the "Black Screen" regarding Booty Grab for weeks now leading me to believe that is a different problem than the current "Slow Down" issue. I'll continue to investigate that one, but the "Slow Down" is a higher priority right now.

Thanks for the info!

[Lowrnhart]

First of all I would like to thank you carbonphyber for bringing this matter to your attention. Second, I would like to state you spelled "Error" wrong, but that's irrelevant aswell.

EDIT: Misspelling fixed. :3

Now onto the problem...

Everytime I login to Gaia Online, the website gives me a brief error that basically tells me to "Slow Down, Hotshot" This message will appear at any given time and is completely random. It also has no specific place where it will pop up, it may pop up simply browsing the forums or it may pop up while in the marketplace, regardless, the problem exists and it is definitely there.



Now the annoying part:

When this error is received, it will most of the time lock the user from it's account for extended periods of time. (My case: 30 Hours) Although the user is allowed to usually access the homepage of Gaia Online, attempting to login to the "infected" account will throw that error message to you. Now, this error does not prevent the user from accessing alternate accounts, it just restricts the use of the blocked account.

Ways to bypass:

As of right now, no attempted method to get past the error have been successful, I have personally tried the following to no avail:

*Restarted Computer
*Used three different web browsers (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari)
*Defragged computer hard drive.
*Changed IP Address
*Switched computers
*Asked my friend across the street to log into my account.
*Cleared Internet Cache, cookies and browsing history, along with all account information.

Conclusion:

The Error is impossible to bypass except for if the user simply waits a random, extended period of time. This time can be as minor as one or two minutes, to times over fifty hours. (I heard one week in extreme cases)

Fixing it:

Although I only understand this error to a certain degree, I do believe adding a captcha that would allow us to get through would be a wise decision, as you will be able to have your working (Sensitive as hell) anti-bot system but allow us innocent users to utilize the website.

[carbonphyber]

Thanks for the suggestion regarding "fixing it" and I noticed the typo in the title just before I read your post. =P

[lushrocker MK]

Is it okay to report to this when it is two people on one account/. me and my friend have a shared account that we go on at the same time sometimes, and we get that error..
((we share his rigs, he bys em, I get to open half, as he cant trade them to be through paypal.))
Am I still allowed to report?

[carbonphyber]

@Lushrocker MK - I don't know if Gaia allows people to share accounts (some parts of the site might think that you've been hacked) and if you are both on at the same time you might legitimately trip our "slow down" error.

Thant said, it's possible that some other users might be in the same situation. Thanks for replying!

[Lowrnhart]

carbonphyber

Thanks for the suggestion regarding "fixing it" and I noticed the typo in the title just before I read your post. =P

Edited a screen shot with the problem.

Edit: I've been locked out of my account now for a good 30 hours now. I -really- want to login to my main account, if there is any way for you to manually unlock me, it would be very much appreciated as I've personally been waiting long enough.

Edit 2: God ********' damnit! It let me onto my account for a nice ten minutes then kicked me off again! This is such bull, I'm ready to quit this game.

[Muun Laydee]

I've had this problem as well except, I haven't been collecting the URLs for when it happens. I'll be sure to collect those from now on.

It started happening to me about a week ago and I thought it was simply because I was posting too much in forums (I'm a heavy poster). But now I get it when I'm going through the Marketplace checking prices, and most often and most recently: Salon Durem. I don't know if it has anything to do with the recent 'eye color change' update but when I go to pick a hairstyle, I have to wait for each one to load..about 3 minutes per hairstyle. When I click on the choice I want, the shop owner says please wait while we cut your hair. I wait about 15 minutes and I click my avatar to go to the dressing room, like I always do, but I get the slow down alert and can't log in for 20-30 minutes, sometimes up to an hour.

I thought maybe it was a small glitch because I tried it the day the eye color change update was released so I just waited til yesterday and today to try and it still happens. I agree with Lowrnhart, there was no way to bypass it. I just close my browser, wait 20 minutes and try to log in again. If I can't then I wait 30 minutes then an hour if I still can't log in.

I use Mozilla Firefox, but tried it on Internet Explorer and no luck. Same with my desktop and laptop (which I got last month). Hope this helps a bit, I'll be back when it happens again.

[Paper Sheeps]

So are people actually having their trading passes disabled because of this?

[m i g h t y-r i p t i d e]

Riptide says...

Hi! Thank you so much for making this thread, as a mod, you probably have a stronger voice than the average Gaian! It started around the time when you first came up with the 'Slow Down, Hotshot!' warning page. It's been getting worse lately, almost every 30 minutes, and it scares me every time, because I've had this account for 1 year, and next mounth is my 2nd Gaiaversary! I don't want to receive the banhammer ever, let alone right before or after my Gaiaversary. (My Gaiaversary is also only a matter of days before my birthday...)

*noms cookie*

[shakespearerules]

I have not yet received the message, but Site Feedback has been filled with threads complaining about the Hotshot message. We've been trying to establish if it's related to any particular toolbar or browser, but it doesn't seem to be. A lot of people are saying that they're getting the Hotshot error when dressing their avatars, and others are saying they're getting it just from clicking around the site and not refreshing.

Most of the threads in Site Feedback are also requesting a captcha be added to the page to cancel the 'lock-out' period. (Some have requested the complete removal of Hotshot errors, but I understand that's not possible, since it's basically main-site flood control, right?) Newer users who have never seen the error before are very nervous about the messages, and are suggesting a rewording of the Hotshot error to clarify what it was that you 'did wrong'. They're afraid that the error page is a warning, and that they might get banned (or even be banned as soon as the message comes up).

Should I send you threads from Site Feedback, as well?