Check your spam filters

I realized that someone (PDGA?) has taken this opportunity to opt all registered forum members in to a spam list. Unless you specifically go to your profile page and explicitly opt out, you can expect spam. This is unconscionable. This is a question of basic internet decency. It just ain't right. This whole new message board thing is a collossal disaster.

[tpozzy]

Take a look at the wording of that option:

From time to time we send out emails regarding this community. Do you wish to receive these emails?

In our minds, sending you emails about the message board that you have registerd for is not "spam", so we left the default the way we did. If we set the default to "No", then we would have set up a situation where the majority of users wouldn't get an important email about the board, like the one we sent out last night with regards to new passwords. Since I have been webmaster (July 2002) for pdga.com, the email we sent out last night was the only one we've ever sent.

This is not the same as asking you if we can include you on general PDGA mailings, or provide your email address to third parties.

If you really don't like the board, I will be happy to delete your user account.

-Theo Pozzy
PDGA Commissioner and Webmaster

I looked closely at the wording ... it did not say what "this community" meant. The message board? The entire disc golf community? I though the "feedback encouraged" statement was genuine, but I'm not so sure now. I would have hoped for a little more acceptance of negative feedback.

No, thanks, if I decide to unsubscribe, I'd like to do it myself. Offers of summary expulsion in response to criticism will certainly encourage unsubscribing, if that's the effect you intended.

Ron,

1) I don't think that Theo was trying to get rid of you. If you have read this board for any length of time, you would know that the tone of Theo's posts have been nowhere near hostile. I assume that his offer was to wipe out your data so that you could re-register with a clean slate.

2) What kind of SPAM have you received, and how do you know that it is attributable to this board. Is this board the only place where you have used a certain email address?

3) I couldn't even find your name in the PDGA files. Your opinions/comments may carry a little more weight if you were a contributing member of this "community"

4) Please forgive if the above posts did not give you the impression that I am being antagonistic, because that is not my intent.

[exczar]

Didn't mean to post above anonymously. Still getting used to new BBS.

No, I haven't gotten any spam yet that I know of (haven't checked that email address lately), but finding myself already opted-in set off all kinds of alarms. This email address has ONLY been used for this forum and its predecessor, and I did start to get first DG-related spams and then the usual flood offers to enlarge my whatevers and send checks to Nigeria and whatnot. Other than here on this website, I have never used the address, and now I have to manage spam filters.

The confusion as to what exactly "this community" means is still lingering! (In part, due to your usage in your post which seems to conflict with Theo Pozzy's usage) I'm really trying to give this new board a chance, but my first impressions are extremely unfavorable. I didn't see any notification that PDGA membership was a requirement. If so, it ought to be advertised. I rarely use my full legal name on any internet forum, having been a victim of identity theft in the past, at great personal expense.

I'd say about 98% of my DISCusssion usage has been just reading, the Rules and Course Design threads, and if I can still do that, I'd like to stick around, but this new forum does not make it easy. If I have to spend a week tinkering with the settings, it just isn't worth it. I could be practicing my drives.

[Moderator005]

Great attitude. This message board isn't even a day old, but it's already a "disaster." Way to criticize our hard-working volunteer's efforts.

Then go practice your drives, and don't let the door hit you in the [*****] on the way out.

Wow, is that what I sound like when I'm pissin' and moanin'? I may have to reevaluate my new, more stern, message board personality if I sound as bitter as Ron.

Nah...

Theo,
The new format looks great. Thanks.
My concern is that since I became PDGA state rep, I'm getting an increasing amount of spam--now approaching 50 pieces/day directed at myself, at PDGA.com BNrock warned me about this, but as usual, I need to be experiential, and find out for myself. So what do I do?
I appreciate your efforts here to promote individual connections between PDGA members.

[jackinkc]

Chan :confused:ge is never simple. If all Ron wants to do is surf through, he should be able to pretty clearly.

I for one would like to see only PDGA members be allowed to post in here, and possibly set up a forum for Non-pdga players to talk.

Many of the chat rooms that I am in that are pay sites have this feature. They open up all forums to paid members, but those that don't have the membership, get access to limited versions of the site. I would love to see something like that implemented, and with this thread this is not that hard of an idea to undertake, but many folks would be ticked none-the-less.

Excellent work boys, keep it up.

Jack

[ching_lizard]

Ron, I don't think that the PDGA is putting you on a SPAM list with that option that is listed on the "My Home" profile settings...

It says that "we occasionally send out announcements" etc...so it isn't like they are selling our e-mail addresses to outside vendors or anything. Now if you consider that any e-mail you get from the PDGA itself to be SPAM, then you certainly have a valid concern there! :D

I get more SPAM than I can handle these days, and even with a SPAM filter program, it doesn't catch it all.

I think when you (notice I think) I read that when you join the pdga they sell your information. Although, don't think that is what that button is for. I am done thinking