Dear LSTOWN-L Folks,

I have one list under 'lock-down' right now due to
repeated pseudonymous subscriptions from the
same banned (Filter=) former member (who,
incidentally, made legal "sounding" threats without
supplying their name or legal credentials).

By lock down I mean subscription by owner,
with a polite follow-up "confirming" message from
me personally. The would-be new members must
reply, which allows me to track their IP back
to a geographical location in many cases, and
allowed me to find three attempts (so far) from
the banned former member.

I would be delighted if LISTSERV would provide
me, as the list owner, with the entire header of
the "ok" confirmation message, however I do not
know of a way to get it (as a list owner). I
suspect that only site managers have access to
the header of the confirm message, right?

Waste of Time

I *know* that if they really want on, they will
eventually find a way around this flimsy screen,
however. All of my lists are set to default review.
After I'm comfortable, I remove the review by
hand for active members - lurkers stay on review
forever.

Right now the biggest hole in this screen is
AOL.COM, because they do not supply clear
IP addresses that I can track back to a
geographical location in many cases.

Slim Advantage

The primary advantage this screening mechanism
has is internal satisfaction for me. I know this
creep has gone through the effort to set up
alternative IDs and e-mail accounts to get the
information that was freely available before
they became abusive and unpleasant. And I
have some proof of their repeated subterfuge
and "harassment," if any of their threats come
to fruition.

  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