"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
Well I use a munged email address on Usenet (pretty easy to guess the real
one)...means I don't get picked up by harvesting software unless someone
cares to do the job manually.....but then I have nothing to hide.....and
if I do get someone providing my real addy to such groups I have a delete
key in my mail reader, plus filters, so I don't get to see it....

Some of us can't show our legitimate e-mail addresses for the simple reason
the trolls use it to impersonate us on sex and freak and kook groups. I
have the proof one did this to me before I started to hide my real address.
Look what was done with Ed Alston's (Cuttysark) e-mail address as an
example. Several people on this NG have my legitimate e-mail address.


Now, when it comes to supplying a valid email address - whether on Usenet,
a google group or a forum....the benefit of doing so outweighs the
benefits of not doing so IMO - say, a moderator wants to discuss a post
with you (hopefully not edit or ban outright which IMO is not what should
happen) how can they do this without a valid email address (even if it is
a disposable)????

A valid e-mail address can be sent to all the moderators with the idea they
keep it PRIVATE and not share it anyone but another moderator. Gill, Jan,
ED and Derek have my legitimate e-mail address.

What if you are getting involved in a flame
war or a dispute which is not in the best interests of the group to carry
on on-line? A valid email address allows this to continue off-line without
impacting the group as a whole....

Only with non-trolls. There's nothing to stop those on a "mission" or a
troll grabbing it and using it as they've done before.

The only reason I can see for remailers, untraceable emails, fake
addresses, impersonations and maybe hipcrime (although I only have a vague
idea on what this does as I can't be bothered to look it up) is for people
up to no good...

who do not have the interests of a group at
heart and truly do not want to participate in the spirit intended....in a
nutshell to troll wanting to cause disruption.....

Gill

BTW I haven't checked if Tristan's email addy is real....

Tristan is Roy Hauer who posted as Roy, plus other NYMs.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
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