Originally posted by Maria
Prodigy... why?
Prodigy and AOL both use proxies that change the IP address that you appear to use to connect to web pages. An IP address is like a unique number that identifies you on the Internet. It is normal for these to change everytime you dialup, but AOL and Progidy actually change the identifying address constantly whilst you are connected by using a thing called proxies. This could mean that...
1. When you log to the forum you may have the address of 212.103.238.1
2. When the index page loads you then may have the address 212.103.238.2
The forum then thinks that you have logged off and logged back on, because your address has now changed. Therefore it resets your new post search.
This is the root of the problem, its more complex than the above in reality, but I hope that gets over the general concept of what is happening.
Another way of looking at it, is to compare it to phone numbers,. With Prodigy and some other ISPs, it is the equivalent of your phone number changing DURING you conversation with someone after you have dialled. It would cause a lot of confusion for the phone system! LOL