I can relate totally Buzz.
I will do my best to address the things that you mention and probably add a few others for clarity.
As far as the spyware issue, please note in our registration agreement the following statement:
Also note that the software places a cookie, a text file containing bits of information (such as your username and password), in your browser's cache. This is ONLY used to keep you logged in/out. The software does not collect or send any other form of information to your computer nor will any Administrator ever install spyware of any kind that tracks your internet activity. I give you my word this site will
"never" stoop to monitoring others internet traffic with spyware. I have had that done to me and I know others that have experienced it as well and its enough to cause a grown man to want to black a few eyes and bloody a nose.
Another thing we will not do or tollerate, is our members "policing"
and reporting where other people visit. This is the USA. Unlike some sites, I dont care where our members visit. I have said numerous times, the internet is a great source of information and I hope everyone can learn from what it has to offer and share that knowledge.
I mention this because using spyware is only one form some sites use to control their kingdoms. We have serveral routine visitors, which by the way are welcome, despite their gutless behavior, but their only purpose is to report back to another site on who is participating here.
As far as the private inter forum emails, more commonly known as Private Messages, let me provide some information so that everyone can be aware of what the
"truth" is on this matter.
For starters, please check out this link and read the answer to the question about Private Messages. This comes from the software developers.
http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=451Did you catch the second part of the response? :
This however does not mean it is impossible to do so, but SMF will not provide any kind of support for allowing the viewing of personal messages of others.So its clear, contrary to what we have been told by other forum administrators/owners, its possible for those so called private messages to be read. With that in mind, right now Jay and Frank, the other two admins don't have server access yet so that leaves me. My self confidence is high enough that I don't have to worry about anything anyone is writing. I am very secure with where I am in life and I neither have the need or desire to learn how to find the file on the server that stores the information. I wont do it, even if I knew how.
Why? For starters I am not stupid
More importantly, its way to easy to set a trap in a private message and before you know its exposed that the messages are being read. Been there and set that trap before and it works real well
I have been told private message are encrypted and cant be read if they wanted to. My response to that, hogwash! As the designers of this software pointed out, it is possible and I know it was done to me elseware! Even more interesting is that anyone is stupid enough to even claim the messages cant be read when the very software designers point out that they can.
On another note of concern is for anyone using a server to host your site and/or email accounts. I had a so called friend host our site some time ago and provide a couple email accounts. Never thought much about it until one morning around 2 am I tried to download my email and I kept getting an error message I cant access the account because I am already logged in on another system. Interesting? I wasn't logged in anywhere else then it hit me. My password was provided by the server host. The next morning I was able to log in and what I found was a lot of new emails but all of them had been read, which was reflective of the fact they were no longer in bold print. The only person who had access to my emails was the server. So, I set a trap! You know, the kind of trap that when a person reads it they cant help but make some comment about it to someone or even you. Presto, the hand was in the cookie jar! Needless to say, I changed servers straight way.
Whats my point with the email story? I would encourage everyone to make sure your email is with a reputable large firm to prevent this type of thing. It happens all to often and in most cases its because of ignorance to how the system works that we are taken advantage of.
This site was established for us to share our life experiences, challenges, and dreams. A community if you will of common interests, concerns, and maybe even values and done so with out financial gain being a factor. Knowing the love of money is the root of all evil, you wont find money come into the equation with the owners and/or membership of this site, EVER. Costs are minimal and when split with three people its a joke as to how cheap it is. This factor alone I believe will drive the future of this site in a positive direction.
You can rest assured, another thing that will not take place here is the orginazation of a private finanace committy in a private board room that organizes a financial fund drive then makes claim the owner or admins know nothing about it when in fact their direct input was provided. I will never understand how an owner of a site encourages people to post for the purpose of raising money for them, then watch those very people he talked to in the private room claim he has no input or knows nothing about it when in fact they have not only discussed it with him but recieved encouragment from him for the committy to do all the posting since it wouldnt work as well if he were to do the asking. Gutless and decietful is the word that comes to mind.
I am glad and appreciative of your questions Buzz as I hope everyone has a better understanding of what the truth is about the questions you raised. You can put your concerns on these matters at rest because it ain't gonna happen here
Now, for my feelings on this issues. Anyone got a barf bag? I cant tell you how many times I was lied to about these issues and knowing otherwise I set the traps. It never failed. It took longer with some sites than others but each and every time they just couldn't keep their mouth shut about something I mentioned in a message or email. I don't even know if a barf bag is big enough for how these issues make me feel. I guess it comes down to Personal Integrity. What is integrity? Its doing the right thing when no one is watching!
I hope this address's anyones concerns on this matter and I welcome any further discussion on it as I think its a topic of value and importance. Knowledge is power and Knowledge of the Truth is power to the 10 degree