Dear LSTOWN-L Folks, On one list I'm using an identity checking routine* that, while quite laborious, is working as I expected to eliminate self-serving chest pounding from one so-called "support" group. It also reduces general lurking and those who are not *serious* about seeking membership. *Historical reasons for implementing this procedure are supplied below. Unfortunately, this identity checking method also discourages the some of the most timid and some "professionals" in other fields who have little understanding of their Internet identity. Procedure What I do is ask them to privately identify themselves off-list to my private e-mail address. This often allows me to see their "injection" IP address, >and< makes an explicit "contract" between me and the new member that they are who they say they are. I ask for three things: 1. their full name, 2. full names of any others who will likely be reading the mail sent to that account, and 3. a "very brief" reason why they want to join. Results So far, there have been NO unwanted advertisements from the so-called "support" group in question, and discussion seems to be a little more focused. *Historical Background After three years and hundreds of thousands of message deliveries for one so-called support group, I finally pressed (privately and politely) my long term request for a "return" link from their Web page. They responded by filing over a dozen complaints with our LISTSERV host ( *.edu) and before long I was spending unreasonable time on "dealing" with their irrelevant complaints rather than leading the discussion. I moved one related list to another *.edu LISTSERV, and moved the 'controversial' group to eGroups.Com, to eliminate the wasted time with this "support" group's harassment. No, eGroups is not even close to being in the same class, but it was the best I could do on short notice. Because I establish the identity of newcomers as they enter the group, there has been no need to figure out identities later. Although this identity checking is a lot of work, it has worked much as I expected, and the list has continued grow at two to three new members per week. I hope this helps (IHTH). Pax, Ballew Kinnaman <[log in to unmask]> 206/463-2322 Discussion list owner: Allergy ---> http://www.Immune.Com/allergy/index.html Arthritis ---> http://www.Emissary.Net/arthritis/index.html PCHealth ---> http://www.Emissary.Net/pchealth/index.html Latex Allergy ---> http://www.Immune.Com/rubber/index.html Thyroid ---> http://www.Emissary.Net/thyroid/index.html