Almost everyone has run into a situation where access to MySpace is blocked by the policies of the institution. This is the case at many schools, libraries, and businesses. The institutions typically do this by setting up a proxy server that will not allow requests from browsers to certain web sites and domains.

You may have also heard that methods exist to get around these restrictions.

Google to the rescue!

A few weeks ago, an article titled "Using Google to View MySpace or Any Restricted Site" was published on the O'Reilly Network. This article describes three ways to use Google to bypass a proxy server.

But, please, be cautious and polite

Now, if the building you're in blocks MySpace, you need to consider the consequences if you subvert the system and go to MySpace anyway. You certainly don't want to lose your job or get reprimanded by your school.

The unfortunate thing is that institutions like schools and businesses typically apply a "yes" or "no" approach when they decide which web sites and domains to block. They do this because that's the easiest approach. As is frequently the case, this system punishes all users, because the institution is determined to stop the few people who would abuse the privilege of being able to use MySpace.

My recommendation is that you take extra special care if you decide to apply methods that bypass restrictions. While I do not in general favor blocking sites, I certainly don't want to see any of my MySpace friends get in trouble!

I recommend being both cautious and polite in your use of MySpace in these situations. That is, don't broadcast it across the room that you're using MySpace when they don't want you to! And go to MySpace only occasionally, and stay there briefly, just to check in and perhaps post a quick reply to a message or comment. This type of usage is very similar to checking a standard email account, which few institutions try to block. If you do it this way, then probably no one will really mind (or even notice) that you took a few trips over to that forbidden site, MySpace.com.