At 04:21 PM 04/21/2002 -0400, Rich Greenberg wrote:
>}...If they are a subscriber to the list, they ought to be able to
>} access the archives without a password.
>
>Well, you could make the archives public (not recommended).

Rich,

You are correct.  My list is private and I certainly would NOT want to make
the archives public.  They should be available to subscribers only.

And at 06:08 PM 04/21/2002 -0500, Mark R. Williamson wrote:
>At 03:09 PM 4/21/02 -0500, Russ Hicks wrote:
>>I realize the necessity of asking for their email address because
>>that will let Listserv know whether or not they are a subscriber or not.

>All that entering an email address will prove is that the person entering
>it knows (or can guess) the email address of some subscriber.  How much
>good is that?

Mark,

Good point.  No good at all...

..............

Okay guys, thanks for helping me think through this.  99% of my
subscriber's list experience has been via email, far removed from this list
site itself.  They only read emails at their own computers.  But when you
access the archives, you actually have to get into the list site itself,
and for security's sake, that MUST involve a password.  Dang...  but that's
correct.  There is simply no other way to protect the security of the list
without asking for a password.  What that's telling me is that I must add a
question and answer to my FAQs that addresses this password requirement.

Rich Greenberg had a great example of how to explain passwords to
subscribers and I think I'll adapt some of his words to my own list
FAQs.  Thanks for those words, Rich.

Really the Listserv procedures themselves, just as they are, are not too
bad.  Just follow your nose and do what it says.  I railed against the
requirement for a password in the first place, but now that I understand
all this more clearly, I see there is no other secure way.

Thanks for helping me think through this situation guys.  I also hope this
discussion is helpful to other list owner newbies who may be reading
this.  Education of new list owners is certainly an important part of this
LstOwn-L list.

Russ

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Dallas, Texas
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my home page: http://www.RussHicks.com