This is true. > The question of whether or not (and under what circumstances) > to edit the list message archives, such as to remove > "offending" messages has been debated here at great length. > Personally, I believe that there are a few occasions when it > may be either appropriate or necessary to so. But the > definition of "appropriate occasion" varies with different > lists and different audiences. I would say there is no > universally agreed circumstance for doing so, except perhaps > as a result of some legal judgement or law enforcement > action. I'd just like to add here that I've never done it, on the (perhaps paranoid) assumption that it's a slippery slope. How much editing of what was _really_ said can be refused, once you've edited once (can you be just a little bit pregnant)? I see myself spending my life manipulating the past so that people are spared having accessible the evidence of what they actually said. I tell those desperate folks that really you _can't_ take it back, any more than you can take back what you said in a conversation (and that the wayback machine's probably got it stored, anyway). -- Russ > > I'll now concentrate on the "how to". In 15.5 you can easily delete > individual messages via the WWW interface. However, you must be in "Expert > Mode" to do so. In the upper right corner of the screen (top line above the > blue bar) it usually says "Basic Mode | Edit Page". Click on "Basic Mode" > which takes you to the Preferences page. The very first-listed option is > Mode. Change to "Expert Mode" and click on 'Update' button. > > Now go to your list message archives page and click on the Monthly/Weekly page > (also known as the A1 page). Beside each message listed, over to the right > side will be a 'Trash can' icon. Click this icon to delete the desired > message. You will be asked to confirm. If you are sure you want to do so, > then confirm your action. As the message says, this step is irrevocable and > cannot be undone. > > Repeat this for each desired message. No, the process will not be made easier > by allowing you check a bunch of boxes and delete multiple messages at once. > The process is intentionally made inconvenient since it is assumed it will > seldom be used. This power/privilege is limited to List Owners (and Site > Administrators). Individual users cannot delete their own messages. > > There is a much more difficult way to do this by email that involves manual > editing of the entire (monthly/weekly) message archive. If you are so > inclined, see the List Owner's FAQ page: > http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/owner-faq.stm#_Toc81722881 Russ Hunt Department of English St. Thomas University http://www.stu.ca/~hunt/