function areas:load()
        local file, err = io.open(self.config.filename, "r")
        if err then

minetest.log("error","FATAL AREAS ERROR ... COULD NOT LOAD FROM FILE, ERROR CODE: "..err)
minetest.request_shutdown("PROTECTION FILE COULD NOT BE LOADED ... SHUTTING DOWN", true)

                self.areas = self.areas or {}
                return err
        end
        self.areas = minetest.deserialize(file:read("*a"))
        if type(self.areas) ~= "table" then
                minetest.log("error","AREAS FROM FILE ARE NOT A TABLE")