# Member List disabled? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 26, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193 "2002-03-26T15:22:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/1 "2002-03-26T15:22:48Z")
I have been absent from the boards for a while, but now I am back (thankfully). I was trying to look up a previous poster, but when I click on the MEMBERS button, it says that it has been disabled. Is this a temporary state? What’s the best way to find my old friends? rubes ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/2 "2002-03-26T15:31:49Z")
First of all, welcome back **rubes**. In answer to your question, the members list has been disabled forever. This was done to (try to) prevent people from gathering member emails and spamming them. If you want to get a previous member’s email, look up their profile. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/3 "2002-03-26T15:32:50Z")
(BTW, this should go to ATMB.) Mods!! Cleanup on aisle 7!! Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/4 "2002-03-26T15:34:10Z")
Boy, you have been gone a long time. I’ve been here almost two years and I don’t think in all that time the member list has _ever_ been enabled. Best way to find your old friends? I don’t know … use the search feature I suppose, unless you can’t remember screen names in which case, I really don’t know. _{insert obligatory statement that this should be ATMB}_ ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/5 "2002-03-26T15:36:16Z")
I will now go look up several more threads and simply repeat things already been said. Try it sometime, it’s fun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/6 "2002-03-26T15:53:53Z")
ok, i agree that this should have been in ATMB. \ Why are the buttons for Members still there, though? It’s probably a trap that’s been set for me, i know it. Mod, feel free to close or move as you see fit. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/7 "2002-03-26T17:00:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Why are the buttons for Members still there, though? It’s probably a trap that’s been set for me, i know it. Everytime you click it, the Evil Nazi Mods strangle a puppy. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/member-list-disabled/100193/8 "2002-03-26T17:42:51Z")
> [@](#): > > BTW, this should go to ATMB. Or, since it’s been ably answered, I could just close it. Decisions, decisions, decisions. \<\\> There it is, I close it. Thanks, **zev**. And it’s kittens we strangle, **Jack**. Strangling puppies would be _too_ evil. Even for the damn Dutchie.