Changes to my PM's - how and why?

[denisem]

I see your point, Robin. You could just report the offensive posts, but we shouldn't let this become a bone of contention- back to the original subject.

This struck my funny bone!

What about links to home pages that contain profanity and/or sexual inuendo?

 

[Buckalew11]

Can we filter "PROLLY" please???

I second that nomination!!!

 

[phorsenuf]

What about emails sent from here? Are they censored too?

 

[dcentity2000]

What about emails sent from here? Are they censored too?

They're not, no; I don't think they can be with this software.

Besides, I think modifying eMails is against the law. I *THINK*



Rich::

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Actually Rich both of your posts here are not really correct.

Kathy said Webmasters and moderators can't read your PM's. That is true. The core level database is on a seperate server that is not accesible to them.
The only people that have access to that server are the high level technical staff, Pete, myself and a few people nobody here has ever heard of. In order to read them you would need to do queries and have at least some idea what you are looking for as it's a pretty large database to search.
If you search my posts you will see we have always publicly made that clear.

As for emails since they use our servers there is no law that says we could not apply the filter to them. I've just never bothered.

 

[dcentity2000]

In that case I apologise



Rich::

 

[bicker]

Emails are only legally protected once they've left the gateway server, i.e., long after they leave the DIS software. Technically, every email sent from a mail server is sent by the mail server, and so the mail server has a legal right, and in some cases, a legal obligation, to apply discretion in what gets sent out.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Emails are only legally protected once they've left the gateway server, i.e., long after they leave the DIS software. Technically, every email sent from a mail server is sent by the mail server, and so the mail server has a legal right, and in some cases, a legal obligation, to apply discretion in what gets sent out.

That was my understanding too. For example we are not required to monitor the email but if we were made aware that someone was using our email facilities to conduct illegal activities we would have to take some action.
I don't think people realize how insecure email really is. More and more companies are monitoring employees email, which is perfectly legal and more companies are "archving" and storing emails. It can be intercepted and read anywhere along the way.
More and more employees are facing termination for improper use of email
If you really want secure email your best bet is actually something like hotmail or google mail. While they could read your mail just like anyone else I find it extremely hard to believe that they are reading individual mails, they process millions a day. If you use it from work, utilizing the web interface it is MUCH more difficult, though not impossible for a companies IT department to see what your email says.

 

[C.Ann]

What does emails have to do with PM's?

 

[Patty3]

Do folks get a warning before they are banned? I hope that I never do anything to get banned, I like it too much here.

 

[bicker]

What does emails have to do with PM's?

Cathy was concerned about....

What about emails sent from here? Are they censored too?

Service providers have an even greater need to monitor PMs, since they're providing services for both sides of the discussion, and the data is less volatile. With email, there is often no evidence of the communication a few seconds after the transmission.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Cathy was concerned about....Service providers have an even greater need to monitor PMs, since they're providing services for both sides of the discussion, and the data is less volatile. With email, there is often no evidence of the communication a few seconds after the transmission.

Just to be completely clear most email servers do log. There is evidence of communication such as the from address, the to address and possibly the subject, time sent etc.
Most email servers along the web don't store the contents but employers email servers, for example, often do

 

[bicker]

Yes ... sorry for that confusion. I should have written, "no evidence of the content of the communciation..." That is in contrast to PMs, where, of course, the content of the communication sits on the server until the recipient receives it (and perhaps longer).

 

[C.Ann]

That is in contrast to PMs, where, of course, the content of the communication sits on the server until the recipient receives it (and perhaps longer).

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So basically the answer is "yes" - the PM's here "could" be read by others providing they are in a position to have that access?

Just trying to get some clarification on whether or not PM's are "private" and hoping to get some sort of clarification as to what we are and are not allowed to share via PM..

 

[bicker]

Regarding the latter, I actually asked the same question on the Tech Support forum a few days ago. I did learn that any message that is apparently spam is (thankfully) prohibited. I'm not sure I've seen a full list of conditions for use of PMs, as there is for use of the forums themselves.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm not sure I've seen a full list of conditions for use of PMs, as there is for use of the forums themselves.

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It certainly would be helpful if it could be posted somewhere - otherwise everyone is left to play guessing games..

 

[chell]

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So basically the answer is "yes" - the PM's here "could" be read by others providing they are in a position to have that access?

Just trying to get some clarification on whether or not PM's are "private" and hoping to get some sort of clarification as to what we are and are not allowed to share via PM..

My understanding is that yes, some people can read the PMs but it isn't an easy process.

As far as the clarification on what can and can't be shared via PM I don't have a clue. Heck, for the most part I guess I don't even know what we aren't allowed to post here especially links to other websites.

I know my post wasn't much help to you but I wanted to let you know that you are not the only one who is lost.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Since we don't monitor PM's we have no way of knowing if someone is sending spam via PM or not. The only way we are made aware of it is if someone brings it to our attention. If someone forwards us a PM that is spam we deal with it then. If it is someone that registered for the sole purpose of sending it, no posts just spam pm's, their username will be banned. If it was done inadvertantly by a regular poster they will probably be told to stop.
Other than that we don't get involved in PM's so there really isn't a policy. You can send whatever you want if it gets by the filter. If a member complains about recieving unwanted PM's from a particular poster we reccomend they just block that person.
That's our policy in a nutshell!

 

[madgomez]

Since we don't monitor PM's we have no way of knowing if someone is sending spam via PM or not. The only way we are made aware of it is if someone brings it to our attention. If someone forwards us a PM that is spam we deal with it then. If it is someone that registered for the sole purpose of sending it, no posts just spam pm's, their username will be banned. If it was done inadvertantly by a regular poster they will probably be told to stop.
Other than that we don't get involved in PM's so there really isn't a policy. You can send whatever you want if it gets by the filter. If a member complains about recieving unwanted PM's from a particular poster we reccomend they just block that person.
That's our policy in a nutshell!

But the situation the OP posted about doesn't seem to fit any of the scenarios you just listed?
How did something get by the filter so she could view it for awhile, then suddenly disappear a few days later?
Just trying to understand.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Absolutely it fits. When a word is added or removed from the word filter it applies to all messages old and new. What happend was she recieved a PM with a word that was not filtered. The word was added to the filter so when she went back to look it was astrisked out.

Simple