Munged perhaps but it does not take a computer savy individual to
figure out there is indeed a real email address there. Unlike others
like invalid.invalid.invalid or etc etc. I understanbd
fully why addresses are munged which is not the same as a totally fake
address or those that use anothers in the pretense of evading
discovery or retribution by those they disrupt. No one says it has
to be the persons isp email addy........just a bonba fide email where
they can be reached at., Its not every email program that
automatically posts street addresses and photos so what does it
matter, and at the same time it provides the opportunity to take a
offensive argument off line and out of the groups...unless of course a
person thrives on the attention and disruption.

On Thu, 07 Dec 2006 21:46:54 +0000, Gill Passman
wrote:

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....

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)???? 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....

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....

I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!