I am writing to all group members regarding privacy. Recently,
some potentially valuable members of the group have been
reluctant to join because they did not want their e-mails
publicised or because they were afraid of viruses.
I am proposing 2 actions to encourage these members to join.
1. I can completely block access to member e-mail information.
The list automatically truncates email addresses (e.g.,
"joe@x...") so that these are not revealed.
Until now it has been possible for any member to visit the
web-site and register, then be able to see who the other
members are. While in a collaborative group this should not be
a problem, the blocking may help some people to join and I am
happy to pass messages between members "off-list" if they do
not know each others e-mails - much in the way that the phone
operators of old did - or to accept messages directly from any
such "shadow members" and forward them to the group (as I did
with Alexander's).
2. I can help any member who wants to customise the way they
participate to:
a) receive all e-mails as they are sent
b) receive only one "digest" at the end of each day grouping all
that day's e-mails into one e-mail
c) receive no e-mails, but keep the ability to visit the website and
read the messages there and make postings to the group there.
To avoid viruses, do not open attachments.
I hope that you agree that these steps are acceptable and
though it may impose a slight inconvenience on me, I think this
is worth it to broaden the membership to some valuable
members and protect all of us from unwanted e-mails.
Regards,
Stefan
