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EarlG

(23,245 posts) Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:24 PM Sep 5

216

DU is temporarily in "members only" mode (UPDATE: Back to normal for now)

Last edited Fri Sep 5, 2025, 06:14 PM - Edit history (3)

UPDATE 7:15 PM ET FRIDAY:

It seems that the excess traffic was caused by a search engine crawler that was spamming us with requests. We've blocked the crawler and it seems to have significantly reduced the excess traffic, so we've switched "members only" mode off again, and the site is currently back to normal. Hopefully things will remain stable overnight.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

We are currently seeing a significant spike in traffic above our normal levels, which appears to be ongoing, and the increase in traffic is causing the site to slow down for everyone.

In "members only" mode, DU can only be viewed by members who are signed in, which significantly reduces the number of connections to the database, meaning that signed-in members can use the site as normal while we investigate the situation. We're looking into what is causing this spike in traffic right now.

58 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

DU is temporarily in "members only" mode (UPDATE: Back to normal for now) (Original Post) EarlG Sep 5 OP

Thanks for staying on top of it, Earl. Aristus Sep 5 #1

Thanks for letting us know, my dear EarlG! CaliforniaPeggy Sep 5 #2

Did we get hacked? 1WorldHope Sep 5 #3

No (nt) EarlG Sep 5 #9

Thanks, EarlG! Hope it isn't a DDoS attack, but with this fascist administration... highplainsdem Sep 5 #4

Thanks for the update Earl irisblue Sep 5 #5

See the Star Membership page Pinback Sep 5 #8

Great Idea! FemDemERA Sep 5 #41

I like that! n/t yellow dahlia Sep 5 #12

Done! FemDemERA Sep 5 #43

Thanks malaise Sep 5 #6

Same orangecrush Sep 5 #11

True of many of us True Dough Sep 5 #15

Hehehehhe malaise Sep 5 #27

Ha! So true. 😆 Dave Bowman Sep 5 #44

Same here. ancianita Sep 5 #24

Thanks for information. riversedge Sep 5 #7

I was wondering! BumRushDaShow Sep 5 #10

Battle stations orangecrush Sep 5 #13

Would not surprise me if we find MAGAts KS Toronado Sep 5 #14

Agreed! Flash953 Sep 5 #16

Well, they have nothing better to do. Dave Bowman Sep 5 #45

Earl G Botany Sep 5 #17

Alert: Botany throwing shade at Botany... quaint Sep 5 #21

What you said, Botany BoRaGard Sep 5 #28

I haven't watched cable news in ages, they keep sucking more and more. Cronkite must be spinning fast in his grave. Dave Bowman Sep 5 #46

I can watch some MSNBC later in the day or on the weekends and just a little CNN but there are so many Botany Sep 5 #55

I think that many people in this country and around the world who normally are Apolitico are, since fascism ImNotGod Sep 5 #18

+1, very true. Dave Bowman Sep 5 #47

Thank you, EarlG! bamagal62 Sep 5 #19

I was hoping the spike was due to news of Felon47's death Orrex Sep 5 #20

Me too. Hope springs eternal. NNadir Sep 5 #50

Thank you Keepthesoulalive Sep 5 #22

Caution seems appropriate TNNurse Sep 5 #23

Maybe this... surfered Sep 5 #25

👍 Thank you. mwmisses4289 Sep 5 #26

Why not make DU for registered members all the time? Bluestocking Sep 5 #29

Why? niyad Sep 5 #31

There would be a significant loss of ad revenue if we did that EarlG Sep 5 #32

Hell no! We must reach as many people as possible. mobeau69 Sep 5 #33

+1 Abso-f-ing-lutely! pat_k Sep 5 #40

What pat_k said! Dave Bowman Sep 5 #48

We all found DU somehow. TomSlick Sep 5 #54

Sometimes, I log out and read the latest threads, as well as the replies to my posts. John1956PA Sep 6 #56

Wondered about that. It was very slow when I checked in earlier, but niyad Sep 5 #30

Thanks for update, EarlG. greatauntoftriplets Sep 5 #34

Echos of November 2016? SleeplessinSoCal Sep 5 #35

Now you have to say, "Pooh, pooh, pooh!" to ward off the evil spirits. Scrivener7 Sep 5 #37

Pooh? IcyPeas Sep 5 #51

Thanks. It's good to know we are protected from the barbarians at our gates! marble falls Sep 5 #36

Keep us safe! Thanks EarlG Pucks mom Sep 5 #38

Many thanks Earl. FalloutShelter Sep 5 #39

I know what it is. tavernier Sep 5 #42

Could be preemptive, like something big is about to hit the news Wednesdays Sep 5 #49

Many thanks, EarlG and Elad Alice Kramden Sep 5 #52

Yes, thanks. hermetic Sep 5 #53

Many thanks Earl for your wonderful care and knowledge Stargazer99 Sep 6 #57

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 30 #58

Aristus

(71,374 posts)

1. Thanks for staying on top of it, Earl.

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:28 PM

Sep 5

You’re the best!

CaliforniaPeggy

(155,811 posts)

2. Thanks for letting us know, my dear EarlG!

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:28 PM

Sep 5

It's good to know what's happening and that you're on top of the situation.

1WorldHope

(1,796 posts)

3. Did we get hacked?

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:30 PM

Sep 5

EarlG

(23,245 posts)

9. No (nt)

Reply to 1WorldHope (Reply #3)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:38 PM

Sep 5

highplainsdem

(59,138 posts)

4. Thanks, EarlG! Hope it isn't a DDoS attack, but with this fascist administration...

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:30 PM

Sep 5

irisblue

(36,567 posts)

5. Thanks for the update Earl

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:30 PM

Sep 5

Do you & Elad have a fund site so we can buy you coffee/tea/cold drinks as you figure this out?

Pinback

(13,461 posts)

8. See the Star Membership page

Reply to irisblue (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:36 PM

Sep 5

You can make a 1-time or recurring donation there, even if you’re already a member:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/star

FemDemERA

(653 posts)

41. Great Idea!

Reply to Pinback (Reply #8)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 04:47 PM

Sep 5

Going there now....

yellow dahlia

(4,067 posts)

12. I like that! n/t

Reply to irisblue (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:44 PM

Sep 5

FemDemERA

(653 posts)

43. Done!

Reply to yellow dahlia (Reply #12)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:02 PM

Sep 5

and thank you again EarlG and Elad, not only for all the work, but also for making it so easy to contribute even a small amount every now and again!

malaise

(291,468 posts)

6. Thanks

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:31 PM

Sep 5

Noticed that we slowed down

orangecrush

(27,688 posts)

11. Same

Reply to malaise (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:42 PM

Sep 5

True Dough

(25,268 posts)

15. True of many of us

Reply to malaise (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:54 PM

Sep 5

as we age!

malaise

(291,468 posts)

27. Hehehehhe

Reply to True Dough (Reply #15)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:18 PM

Sep 5

😀

Dave Bowman

(6,343 posts)

44. Ha! So true. 😆

Reply to True Dough (Reply #15)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:08 PM

Sep 5

ancianita

(42,662 posts)

24. Same here.

Reply to malaise (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:16 PM

Sep 5

riversedge

(78,934 posts)

7. Thanks for information.

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:31 PM

Sep 5

BumRushDaShow

(163,862 posts)

10. I was wondering!

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:38 PM

Sep 5

I have been getting 504 errors on the ":36s", :46s", and/or ":56s" of the hour (ET).

Hope you can find the source!

orangecrush

(27,688 posts)

13. Battle stations

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:46 PM

Sep 5

KS Toronado

(22,251 posts)

14. Would not surprise me if we find MAGAts

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:47 PM

Sep 5

going after all Democratic websites.

Flash953

(129 posts)

16. Agreed!

Reply to KS Toronado (Reply #14)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:56 PM

Sep 5

Dave Bowman

(6,343 posts)

45. Well, they have nothing better to do.

Reply to KS Toronado (Reply #14)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:09 PM

Sep 5

Botany

(75,987 posts)

17. Earl G

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 02:57 PM

Sep 5

The spike in traffic to DU is that so many of the network, cable, and local news shows have
become Pravda like pro Trump operations. DU although having a liberal slant but the membership
here tends to be truth driven and so you can read the news without the right wing clutter and
the members here except for Botany tend to be smart and will call out misinformation from the
left too.

DU was slow for me this morning so I watched various news shows and so many were just trash.
I had not seen “News Nation” before and it was garbage.

quaint

(4,447 posts)

21. Alert: Botany throwing shade at Botany...

Reply to Botany (Reply #17)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:06 PM

Sep 5

BoRaGard

(7,591 posts)

28. What you said, Botany

Reply to Botany (Reply #17)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:24 PM

Sep 5

Dave Bowman

(6,343 posts)

46. I haven't watched cable news in ages, they keep sucking more and more. Cronkite must be spinning fast in his grave.

Reply to Botany (Reply #17)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:13 PM

Sep 5

Botany

(75,987 posts)

55. I can watch some MSNBC later in the day or on the weekends and just a little CNN but there are so many

Reply to Dave Bowman (Reply #46)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 07:55 PM

Sep 5

…. Fox News type outfits that it is not funny. News Nation which I saw for the first time had
some woman saying that the President of some Caribbean Nation that she was glad that
Trump’s murder of those Venezuelans will keep her Island safe from drugs.

Btw I just can’t handle Joe Scarborough every time I see him I think of Florida 2000 and
how helped to steal the election from Al Gore.

ImNotGod

(1,194 posts)

18. I think that many people in this country and around the world who normally are Apolitico are, since fascism

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:01 PM

Sep 5

has taken over, flooding to progressive safe sites for info and peace of mind. DU, being at the top safe harbor will probably be experiencing exponential growth imho.

Dave Bowman

(6,343 posts)

47. +1, very true.

Reply to ImNotGod (Reply #18)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:14 PM

Sep 5

bamagal62

(4,289 posts)

19. Thank you, EarlG!

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:02 PM

Sep 5

Orrex

(66,456 posts)

20. I was hoping the spike was due to news of Felon47's death

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:03 PM

Sep 5

Tomorrow is another day

NNadir

(36,999 posts)

50. Me too. Hope springs eternal.

Reply to Orrex (Reply #20)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:32 PM

Sep 5

Keepthesoulalive

(2,043 posts)

22. Thank you

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:11 PM

Sep 5

TNNurse

(7,470 posts)

23. Caution seems appropriate

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:14 PM

Sep 5

There are lots of awful actors out there.

surfered

(10,504 posts)

25. Maybe this...

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:17 PM

Sep 5

mwmisses4289

(2,871 posts)

26. 👍 Thank you.

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:18 PM

Sep 5

Bluestocking

(423 posts)

29. Why not make DU for registered members all the time?

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:30 PM

Sep 5

niyad

(128,828 posts)

31. Why?

Reply to Bluestocking (Reply #29)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:39 PM

Sep 5

EarlG

(23,245 posts)

32. There would be a significant loss of ad revenue if we did that

Reply to Bluestocking (Reply #29)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:46 PM

Sep 5

We would likely have to implement a monthly subscription fee for all members, and I'm not sure it would be economically viable.

mobeau69

(12,187 posts)

33. Hell no! We must reach as many people as possible.

Reply to Bluestocking (Reply #29)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:47 PM

Sep 5

pat_k

(12,568 posts)

40. +1 Abso-f-ing-lutely!

Reply to mobeau69 (Reply #33)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 04:36 PM

Sep 5

Dave Bowman

(6,343 posts)

48. What pat_k said!

Reply to mobeau69 (Reply #33)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:16 PM

Sep 5

TomSlick

(12,820 posts)

54. We all found DU somehow.

Reply to mobeau69 (Reply #33)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 07:05 PM

Sep 5

When I did, I lurked for awhile to see what was going on.

We need to encourage folks reading DU.

John1956PA

(4,635 posts)

56. Sometimes, I log out and read the latest threads, as well as the replies to my posts.

Reply to Bluestocking (Reply #29)

Sat Sep 6, 2025, 06:41 AM

Sep 6

That way, I can see posts from members whom I have on ignore. If I wish to respond to the post of such a member, I will log back in, remove the member from my ignore list, and post my response.

niyad

(128,828 posts)

30. Wondered about that. It was very slow when I checked in earlier, but

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:36 PM

Sep 5

I did not see anything that would have occasioned such a jump in traffic. Like Orrex, ine was hoping. . . .

greatauntoftriplets

(178,538 posts)

34. Thanks for update, EarlG.

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:47 PM

Sep 5

It's been a while since this has happened.

SleeplessinSoCal

(10,353 posts)

35. Echos of November 2016?

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:49 PM

Sep 5

Unforgettable. Can it be determined if the traffic is out of country?

Scrivener7

(57,956 posts)

37. Now you have to say, "Pooh, pooh, pooh!" to ward off the evil spirits.

Reply to SleeplessinSoCal (Reply #35)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 04:04 PM

Sep 5

I don't make the rules. I just report them.

IcyPeas

(24,652 posts)

51. Pooh?

Reply to Scrivener7 (Reply #37)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:52 PM

Sep 5

marble falls

(69,661 posts)

36. Thanks. It's good to know we are protected from the barbarians at our gates!

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 03:49 PM

Sep 5

Pucks mom

(101 posts)

38. Keep us safe! Thanks EarlG

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 04:18 PM

Sep 5

FalloutShelter

(14,027 posts)

39. Many thanks Earl.

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 04:23 PM

Sep 5

tavernier

(14,117 posts)

42. I know what it is.

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 04:55 PM

Sep 5

Rump just changed from Maybelline to Cover Girl. All the major news outlets are wildly scrambling to do an exclusive. They must figure that DU has a highly developed sense of fashion.

Wednesdays

(21,435 posts)

49. Could be preemptive, like something big is about to hit the news

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:24 PM

Sep 5

Something REALLY big, like Epstein files release big!

Alice Kramden

(2,839 posts)

52. Many thanks, EarlG and Elad

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 05:55 PM

Sep 5

We appreciate your dedication

hermetic

(9,075 posts)

53. Yes, thanks.

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Fri Sep 5, 2025, 06:28 PM

Sep 5

Hope it's no big deal and everyone has a pleasant evening. And a good weekend.

Stargazer99

(3,395 posts)

57. Many thanks Earl for your wonderful care and knowledge

Reply to EarlG (Original post)

Sat Sep 6, 2025, 09:47 AM

Sep 6

Response to EarlG (Original post)

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