# I Think all Mods/Admins should remove all dopers from their email contact lists, but I'll settle ... **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 12, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716 "2013-03-12T15:41:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/61 "2013-03-13T01:15:55Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > What, this promise only applies if the SDMB server gains artificial intelligence and goes finding other servers to give information away? How can it mean anything but “our staff agrees not to give it away” and by staff that means you and Ed and all the mods, even if you are not _paid staff_. It means the SDMB (and the people who own it) won’t sell the contents of the database to sites that will spam you. It’s not unusual for magazines to do this, for example. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/62 "2013-03-13T01:40:08Z")
The only recourse is to assume a new identity and relocate to Rio. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/63 "2013-03-13T01:46:27Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Ed and I have communicated again, and a gmail account was not involved in the incident. You don not know, nor do I, whether he adds all new email addresses as a habit, or he has set his account to do so. If Ed wishes to address this, he’s welcome to. I want to say something pitworthy. I won’t. If you want your info kept private, it’s incumbent upon _you_ to keep it that way. If you sent email to _ **anyone** _, your address is _irretrievably_ out there. So are the contents of the messages _ **you** _ sent. Anonymous Proxy Servers are your friends. Mass-market email services (such as Yahoo) are, too. So are Facebook and Linkedin, if _you_ figure out how to use them, that way. I’ve got several accounts, on all those services. But if _ **I** _ use them _unwisely_, then _ **I** _’ll be creating a potential chain from one to the other, to the next, to all of them. And then _none_ of them are anonymous, anymore. Keeping them clean is _my_ responsibility. I can’t expect _anyone else_ to care. If it’s important to you, then it’s \ ***your** \* responsibility, too. If you want _ **that same** _ anonymity, it’s _ **your** _ responsibility to accomplish it. Not the people you’ve sent email to. **Ed Zotti** ’s got _no_ reason to care about your issue, here, dude. Suck it up. Take responsibility for _ **your own** _ identity. Definitely _First World Problem_. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: You’ld be _amazed what I could do_ at this point. Just STFU. Don’t make me _do_ it. I’d probably make it _look_ good. Just ignore the bodies… ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/64 "2013-03-13T02:47:05Z")
Two things: First > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I was using yahoo. Bwahahahahahahahaha!!! As near as I could tell from a former boss’ Yahoo email their approach to spam is to open the door wide open and holler to the spammers “Come on in, the water’s fine.” Secondly don’t you think you are over reacting just a tad? Jumping Christ on a pogo stick if you are using Yahoo you must be used to getting a ton of spam what is one or two more LinkedIn? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/65 "2013-03-13T03:24:08Z")
I believe someone is has begin to act maliciously toward me, probably after reading this thread and deciding to teach me a lesson. In the past hour I’ve received 5 different welcomes to various kinds of websites/clubs for things I’ve never been anywhere near, but I seem to have joined, using my current gmail address and the user name that I use here and nowhere else. This is unacceptable. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I wonder if it’s possible to find out who has accessed my my user data in the last couple hours and take some kind of action. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/66 "2013-03-13T03:45:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I believe someone is has begin to act maliciously toward me, probably after reading this thread and deciding to teach me a lesson. In the past hour I’ve received 5 different welcomes to various kinds of websites/clubs for things I’ve never been anywhere near, but I seem to have joined, using my current gmail address and the user name that I use here and nowhere else. > > This is unacceptable. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I wonder if it’s possible to find out who has accessed my my user data in the last couple hours and take some kind of action. This seems to be happening a lot. Someone who is on my Ignore list recently (falsely) suggested I might be doing the same thing to him. Seriously. I just want to say before anyone asks if it’s me that no, I’m not doing that to you. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/67 "2013-03-13T03:47:06Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > This seems to be happening a lot. Someone who is on my Ignore list recently (falsely) suggested I might be doing the same thing to him. Seriously. I just want to say before anyone asks if it’s me that no, I’m not doing that to you. Do you know of other cases? Has anyone done a Pit thread or something else complaining about it? And I never would have thought of you as the perpetrator, we’ve exchanged a lot of friendly posts. However, they always say it’s the one you least suspect… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/68 "2013-03-13T03:48:39Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Do you know of other cases? Has anyone done a Pit thread or something else complaining about it. I only know of the one, because a Mod sent me a message asking if it was me, presumably after being contacted by the person in question. Obviously, since the person in question is on my Ignore list, he could not contact me directly. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/69 "2013-03-13T04:00:17Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I believe someone is has begin to act maliciously toward me, probably after reading this thread and deciding to teach me a lesson. In the past hour I’ve received 5 different welcomes to various kinds of websites/clubs for things I’ve never been anywhere near, but I seem to have joined, using my current gmail address and the user name that I use here and nowhere else. > > This is unacceptable. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I wonder if it’s possible to find out who has accessed my my user data in the last couple hours and take some kind of action. Well, you had your gmail adress publicly available until sometime today. It’s no longer there, but I know it was last night(at least, I think it was). Good start. We mods/admins have no way to know who accesses your user data(whatever that is). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/70 "2013-03-13T04:05:46Z")
Yes, it was my fault because I didn’t expect another member to use my data maliciously. Can you tell me who can look at my data, or could before I shut it? Can lurkers? Guests? Members? Which of these groups, or all of them? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/71 "2013-03-13T04:20:21Z")
I have just received nearly 100 more of these shit emails, all from different features of the same website. The total is up to about 120 now. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/72 "2013-03-13T04:22:09Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Yes, it was my fault because I didn’t expect another member to use my data maliciously. > > Can you tell me who can look at my data, or could before I shut it? Can lurkers? Guests? Members? Which of these groups, or all of them? Dude, does it matter? You’ve learned a lesson here. If you start a thread like this and leave your email address visible to the public, there are jerks who will use it to mess with you. This is the fucking internet. What does it matter if they were members or not? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/73 "2013-03-13T04:24:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I have just received nearly 100 more of these shit emails, all from different features of the same website. The total is up to about 120 now. Jesus. The person I mentioned is such a world-class creep that I had considered he may have been simply making false accusations as a way to keep annoying me since he knows he’s on my Ignore list. But now I’m wondering just how common this sort of thing is. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/74 "2013-03-13T04:26:26Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > Dude, does it matter? You’ve learned a lesson here. If you start a thread like this and leave your email address visible to the public, there are jerks who will use it to mess with you. > > This is the fucking internet. > > What does it matter if they were members or not? It matters because I want to know, and I don’t care in the least about your opinion. I’m pissed off, and that’s good enough for now. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/75 "2013-03-13T04:28:40Z")
Sorry, **Boyo** - that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/76 "2013-03-13T04:29:46Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > It matters because I want to know, and I don’t care in the least about your opinion. I’m pissed off, and that’s good enough for now. Ok, then. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/77 "2013-03-13T04:37:38Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I have just received nearly 100 more of these shit emails, all from different features of the same website. The total is up to about 120 now. Create a filter to send all emails originating from that website to the trash. Or block the senders. Or both. It doesn’t solve the problem of someone using your email for douchey crap but it keeps your inbox clean. As long as your password is secure, you’re safe though. All they can do is make an account for you and if you don’t confirm its registration, it will remain unactivated. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/78 "2013-03-13T04:44:51Z")
You know, for all the shit I’m getting from people in this thread about vast ignorance of internet privacy, I have been very careful. No one has ever hacked any of my email accounts, I have never hit a wrong button and exposed my contact list to any site. And I had a Facebook account and a LinkdIn account, until I shut them down because they themselves were spamming me too much. But I didn’t ever open up my contacts to them because I didn’t want any of my friends pestered either. As far as I can tell, the only way to be safe is to have a separate email address for each and every entity that I ever correspond with. I will give up internet correspondence before I do that. And I don’t see any problem at all with asking one of very few sites I’ve remained a part of to take some minimal extra precautions to protect my address, and yours. And I am appalled at the response. Every single leak of my gmail address has come from here. I haven’t had this account for very long, only six months or so, but until a couple of days ago I hadn’t received even one single spam main in my inbox, or even routed to my spam box. Now I have more than a hundred, thanks to someone here. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/79 "2013-03-13T04:46:49Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > It matters because I want to know, and I don’t care in the least about your opinion. I’m pissed off, and that’s good enough for now. …unfortunately you won’t be able to do much about this. This message board is full of some of the most wonderful people you could hope to meet. There is also a tiny subsection of snarky, immature bullies who have nothing better to do with their lives. ☹ I’ve struck them before. As Inner Stickler suggests: filter out the email, put your head down and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716/80 "2013-03-13T04:52:04Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Create a filter to send all emails originating from that website to the trash. Or block the senders. Or both. It doesn’t solve the problem of someone using your email for douchey crap but it keeps your inbox clean. As long as your password is secure, you’re safe though. All they can do is make an account for you and if you don’t confirm its registration, it will remain unactivated. Thank you, I know how to cope with spam after many years with Yahoo, the Spam King. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-all-mods-admins-should-remove-all-dopers-from-their-email-contact-lists-but-ill-settle/652716.md?page=5)