NING HAS BLOCKED THE N*ngToGO MIGRATION TOOL

by Evil Genius on 1st Jun 2009 | View all blogs by Evil Genius

This was not entirely unexpected since they blocked our previous migration tool called "Safety Blanket". Even so, it causes more pain and suffering for stranded Ning Network Creators who have already suffered enough.

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As one can see from the html of the page that is returned by our migration tool, Ning has blocked the IP of our servers so that N*ngToGO will no longer function (see highlights in yellow).

<title>Ning - IP Blocked</title>

<style>

body {font:62.5% Arial,Helvetica,FreeSans,clean,sans-serif;background:#fff;}

body, div, dl, dt, dd, ul, ol, li,h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, font, p {margin:0;padding:0;line-height:1.22em;}

hr, fieldset, img, button {border:0 none;}

strong, dt {font-weight:bold;}

h1, h2 {width:100%;margin-bottom:1em;font:lighter 2.4em/1.2em Georgia,"Times New Roman",Times,serif;}

h1, h2, h2 a {color:#360;width:auto;}

h3, caption {padding-bottom:0.2em;margin:1.5em 0 0.3em 0;font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;}

h3, h3 a {color:#390;}

h4 {margin:2em 0 0.4em 0;font-size:1.2em;line-height:1.4em;color:#555;}

h4 em {font-weight:lighter;font-style:normal;}

p, li, dt, dd {font-size:1.2em;line-height:1.6em;}

p, ul, ol, dl {margin-bottom:0.8em;color:#444;}

hr {height:0;margin:1em 0;border-top:1px solid #cdd;border-bottom:1px solid #fff;}

p big {font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.4em;}

a {padding:1px;text-decoration:none;color:#06c;}

a:hover {border-bottom:1px solid #dda;background-color:#ffc;}

.clear {clear:both!important;}

#xn {border-top:5px solid #390;}

#xn_body,#xn .container {position:relative;width:75em;margin:0 auto;}

#xn_body {padding-bottom:3em;}

#xn_primary {float:left;width:53em;margin:0 0 1em 0;}

#xn_foot {clear:left;height:90px;padding-top:1em;border-top:1px solid #b1de90;background:#d8eec8;}

#xn_body.common #xn_primary {float:none;margin:7em auto;width:60em;}

#xn_body.common #xn_primary #xn_logo {padding-top:1em;float:left;font-size:300%;color:#390;font-weight:bold;font-family:serif}

#xn_body.common #xn_primary #xn_logo a {background:none;border:0 none;}

#xn_body.common #xn_primary .content {float:right;width:40em;margin-bottom:7em;padding-left:3.5em;border-left:1px dotted #bcc;}

#xn_body.common h3 {margin:1em 0 0.5em 0;}

#xn_body.common h4, #xn_body.common p, #xn_body.common li, #xn_body.common dt, #xn_body.common dd {font-size:1.3em;line-height:1.6em;}

</style>

</head>

<body>

Ning

</p>

<h3>Your IP has been blocked</h3>

<p>If you think you shouldn't be seeing this page, please <a href="mailto:appeals@ning.com ">contact support</a></p>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</body>
</html>

What does all of this mean to Ning Network Creators?

That Ning has clearly demonstrated that they are not only "passively" refusing to offer you any migration tools or capability so that you can move your site elsewhere... they are now "actively" interfering with all attempts to let you and your members decide for yourselves. This is truly demonstrative of bad faith on their part since N*ngToGO did not provide any greater function than the WordPress plugin for Ning which they still allow to operate;
We have heard rumors that Ning will allegedly release your member data to you if you offer to PAY them $500.00 for a simple database dump of the .xml files. Even then, we've heard that they allegedly will then disable your network from operating, but will NOT delete your members or content from their database. In other words, once you pay them for YOUR content and members, they conveniently keep a copy for themselves anyway;
If you want to migrate your site to SocialGO, you can still do so... but have to simply use a bit of human engineering. In other words, send a nice bulk message to all of your site members on Ning explaining to them that you are "merging" your old and new sites together and that they may have to log-in to the new side of things just one time in order to setup their profile on your SocialGO site. More work for your members? Yes. Impossible to do? No.

When will Ning ever learn that they are doing irreparable harm to themselves by avoiding the inevitable? Ning needs to finally own up to its promise to provide Network Creators their own content upon demand.

It is one thing to make up stories and claim that WidgetLaboratory was "violating TOS", or to cut off their own API and REST, or to close WebDav and FTP. It is quite another thing altogether to INTENTIONALLY BLOCK their own paying customers from simply allowing their site members to migrate their credentials to a related site.

If Ning allows your WordPress site to be merged with your Ning site... then why not your SocialGO site as well? ....

Comments

19 Comments

by Downlow 8 months ago

they are UNREAL....i'm really at a point where im not going to ask them anymore questions and start legal proceedings. I can NOT believe that no one else has thought to sue Ning.
by Ryan 8 months ago

This is not a shocker. Ning is over.
by TrekLair 8 months ago

Geeez, I was about to use this tool today too. Proprietary is the less of two evils when it comes to that dump. I have thousands of members there who want to stay too. I will have to bulk them and then shut the site down. This could have been so much easier and now I will loose so many members. Greedy bastards.
by abi balogun 8 months ago

It is sad for a company to treat its customers like this .Very very sad.
This is worse than a con much worse than a con !
by Downlow 8 months ago

why isnt there a class action lawsuit against ning already??
by N.W.C 8 months ago

I know this has nothing to do with this but I noticed yesterday many adult sites still running with pron and google adds so dose ning also go against its own tos ;)
by Dokun 8 months ago

F*ck Ning!! I just wanna to use this today for most of my sites i still have on N :(((
The member import thing is also not working ( useless because of the email validation)
Any new things coming up Spence...? ;)
by Lalala 8 months ago

PLEEEEEASE DO SOMETHING!!!!! :(
I just want to go Social Go but I can't. What a f...k!!!?
It's unbeliveable...
by Evil Genius 8 months ago

@Lalala

You can always go... the migration tools were simply a convenience, not a necessity.
by andrewd 8 months ago

then why arent we coming together to find a lawyer and do something, I will start a social site based on this subject.........and we can go from there
by andrewd 8 months ago

So EG are there any other tools in the works?
by andrewd 8 months ago

Okay so here it is...dont know if anyone has done this yet but...http://takeback.socialgo.com/home.html this network is for creators who want to fight and file suite for there data
by Evil Genius 8 months ago

@andrewd

Right now the best method is to simply to a "merger" of the sites using similar styling, and just let the members come over on their own. Ning is intent on shutting down anything and everything that automates the process, but they can't really do much about plain old human engineering.
by andrewd 8 months ago

If I import my users into the database here at socialgo, when I invite my members over or throw the switch with the dns pointing, will they beable to login to there profiles I brought over, if I give them all a generic password...thanks
by Lalala 8 months ago

"You can always go... the migration tools were simply a convenience, not a necessity."

Dear Evil Genius!
I don't wanna seems to stupid, but please tell me how can I go to ocial Go from Ning with my all content? ( members, photos, videos, blogs etc. ) Thank you!
by Evil Genius 8 months ago

@lalala

There is no easy way to get videos, blogs, forums out, unless you pay Ning $500 to give you a dump of your content (don't hold your breath). For members and photos, we have two free tools available for you to use. If you want to do a member migration, be sure to notify us so we can request that the email services on your socialgo site be set to allow for the members to be able to reset their passwords without having to verify their emails first.

Any questions, email to us at help@widgetlaboratory.com

Cheers!
EG
by LakeErieSportFishing 7 months ago

How come everyone here is trying to switch, my users love ning?
by Evil Genius 7 months ago

@LakeErieSport

How's the saying go... "if you have to ask"....

Let's just say that most site owners are not happy with Ning. We're pretty sure that the site members don't care either way. Feel free to Google the subject and you'll learn all the facts.
by derrickhand300 5 months ago

Well, Ning wont hand over my code, files etc,not for love or money.. In return I have created a site that I hope many will find BEFORE the sign up for a ning account
Its live but a work in progress www.dontning.com would appreciate any high PR links from folks that are disgusted with ning, maybe we can get this to the top of google search results for Ning