Joining by IP

No matter how long I wait, it says it contacts the server but the screen just sits there forever. Why can't I join any games by IP that are listed? (I'm using listserv) It's odd, because when my friend hosted a game by IP it worked but I only did that one time. This is why I tend to just host or join games advertised on the MS.

Are you sure you typed in the IP address correctly?
Also I don't use the Play by IP option, I connect with the console instead with the
command

Listserv is fairly broken, a lot of those servers are probaly already done and over with.

I do use the console to join by IP and I enter it correctly all the time. My friend also has this similar problem. I guess what chrome said is right because I've done everything correctly.