Login errors

August 8, 2004 12:02 PM

several people are noting thisafternoon that having logged out, they are now unable to log back in.
posted by quonsar to Bugs at 12:02 PM (21 comments total)

That's not a bug, it's a feature.
posted by esch at 12:04 PM on August 8, 2004

They also mentioned that it was a MetaFilter only issue (not MetaTalk or Ask MetaFilter).

Specifically the error was: Invalid CFML construct found on line 289 at column 1915.
posted by snarfodox at 12:04 PM on August 8, 2004

Correction from someone else: “Can't login to any area at all, just able to browse meta and askme, not comment or login.”
posted by snarfodox at 12:08 PM on August 8, 2004

I thought all the logins were deleted.

/badum-bump
posted by scarabic at 12:09 PM on August 8, 2004

this prompts two questions.

• but i can't remember
• what they are

posted by quonsar at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2004

Unfortunately, after the events of 8/1, we have decided that allowing anyone to login poses an intolerable risk to our weblog. Especially if they're swarthy-looking.
posted by reklaw at 12:17 PM on August 8, 2004

When logged out, I get the CFML error page that snarfodox mentions at www.metafilter.com. I am (obviously) able to log in.
posted by Zonker at 12:33 PM on August 8, 2004

readers are now sending email and dropping into #mefi to report:

"I've been nearly daily reader of mefi for years, and i wanted to tell you that no one outside the elite account-holders can access the front page. i've tried from work and home and on different browsers and the result is always a Invalid CFML construct found on line 289 at column 1915. It's my belief that most mefi readers do not have accounts."
posted by quonsar at 12:48 PM on August 8, 2004

According to Warren Spector, the only correct way to leave is by making
your way to the Cathedral's courtyard and listening to Brother Muris.

Using a ribacge to block the front doors will only work with earlier versions
of Thief.
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2004

"no one outside the elite account-holders can access the front page."

You mean I've finally made it into the elite?

Happy happy, joy joy!!!
posted by wendell at 1:20 PM on August 8, 2004

I cleared out my cache a bit more thoroughly - cleared all of everything all over - and now I get back in. So mine was a screw up on my end in terms of not being able to log back in.

Now, if only I could remember all my passwords to everywhere.....
posted by Salmonberry at 1:49 PM on August 8, 2004

A lurker came to #mefi and said:
[trey] For what it's worth, non-logged in members can access the main page at http://www.metafilter.com/archived.mefi/8/1/2004
posted by Salmonberry at 2:01 PM on August 8, 2004

no one outside the elite account-holders can access the front page

I just accessed mefi from a few browsers that don't have my logged-in cookie (IE, Lynx), and can confirm that both times it returned an error 500 with "Invalid CFML construct found on line 292 at column 1915". Considering the number of non-logged-in people who read mefi daily, that's pretty serious. I also have no idea what could be causing it -- why isn't it breaking for logged in people too?
posted by reklaw at 3:23 PM on August 8, 2004

logged in people get a dynamically generated page, the result of a database query. other people get a static page that is regenerated once every 5 minutes. there is some kind of problem with that page.

as sal pointed out, the current archive page is not affected.
posted by quonsar at 3:44 PM on August 8, 2004

*pats self on back for never, ever logging out*
posted by languagehat at 3:58 PM on August 8, 2004

there was some hideous malformed code in three posts (the livejournal one, the nazi one, and one other one), but I'm not sure who tripped it. It's fixed now.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:02 PM on August 8, 2004

*cues Superman theme music*
posted by DaShiv at 4:06 PM on August 8, 2004

Damn, I was hoping it was round one of Metafilter Survivor underway.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:29 PM on August 8, 2004

MetaFilter: some hideous malformed code

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce: codese!
posted by wendell at 8:03 PM on August 8, 2004

i vote wendell off the island.
posted by quonsar at 8:53 PM on August 8, 2004

Sorry, q, didn't you hear? I won this week's Immunity Challenge. Grubworms. Yum.

Now run along before I start using Richard Hatch's wardrobe advice.
posted by wendell at 9:47 PM on August 8, 2004