Received a message that suggests somebody is fooling around with a
list I own, although perhaps not. Maybe a more knowledgeable hand
will recognize what's going on here. Here's the message:

>Your command:
>PW REP "PASSWORD"
>has remained unconfirmed  for more than 48h and is  being cancelled. If you
>did want it executed but were unable to send the confirmation in time, just
>re-issue the command to get a new  confirmation code. The one you were sent
>before can no longer be used.

(I've inserted the word "PASSWORD" in place of the letters actually
included, as I do sometimes use them for a password and would as soon
keep them private.)

As I read this, the listserv computer think I tried to replace the
present password with a new one. I never sent any such command,
however. My concern is that this means somebody has attempted to
change the password without my knowledge. That would mean they had to
fake my e-mail address, or the listserv wouldn't have accepted the
initial request, right? And it would mean that they have been poking
around in my passwords, as the one in the message from the listserv
does indeed use characters that I use commonly for a password when
security isn't of much concern (because it's easy to remember) --
although not for the listserv I own.

Then again, perhaps I'm paranoid, because what would be the purpose
of changing the password to one that I normally use?

I am getting a bit forgetful, but I'm pretty sure I didn't initiate
anything like this.

Is there some listserv malfunction that this might result from? That
doesn't make sense either, because the requested new password is
different from the one the listserv is now programmed to use, and it
wouldn't have any way of knowing what my alternate, low-security
password is.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Phineas Fiske, list owner for the National Conference of Editorial Writers