State society sharing your e-mail address?

**HarryChiling** · 04-13-2007, 01:41 PM

I am very disappointed in the fact that a member of our state society sees it fit to share my e-mail address with local business, which have been sending me optical spam. I guess it's better than porn, but I do my best to avoid being put on list and such and feel as though a trust has been violated. What is your opinion?

**Fezz** · 04-13-2007, 01:45 PM

Harry,

I will refrain from saying exactly what my opinion is. It is early and I have only had one fine ale.

I AM OUTRAGED, AS YOU SHOULD BE!!!!!!!!

Let whoever stabbed your back and showed zero character exactly what you think of them.

By the way, thats why I didn't list my e-mail at that meeting in January. I am assuming thats were they got yours?

**HarryChiling** · 04-13-2007, 01:50 PM

Fezz,

First bro how did you post when I didn't even finish the poll? And yes, that is where the e-mail came from. I know who the person is and they may not necessarily represent the new organization, but the gall. Thanks for chiming in and I'm glad it's not just me.

**Audiyoda** · 04-13-2007, 01:56 PM

Legally a gray area at best. Most organizations and companies are smart enough to not want to deal with the possible problems. E-mail list-servs contain what is considered private information - the FCC made that ruling a few years ago. Hence the need to opt-in to a list-serv as well as an easy way to opt-out of sharing your personal information.

I would say a strongly worded letter to the head of the organization along with a demand for proof that all companies have been informed that you opt-out of their communication is in order. That letter from an attorney will really get someone's attention as well as get the matter taken care of.

**HarryChiling** · 04-13-2007, 02:01 PM

I think it is an old board member that did it. I don't want to be too much of a dick about it, but with the amount of spam I have to sift through daily I would like to at least count on my state society or it's board members as honest and trustworthy, thanks for the comment.

**Fezz** · 04-13-2007, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by HarryChiling

Fezz,

First bro how did you post when I didn't even finish the poll?

Its MAGIC!!!!!!!

**Andrew Weiss** · 04-13-2007, 02:23 PM

Harry,

From what you've written, it sounds like it was one person acting on his/her own, kind of a "rogue" absconding with the email addresses, and not an official act by the state society.

I'll leave legalities aside here; I think it's unethical for a state society to sell or give its email, phone or address list to anyone. :finger:

I hope your state society with take some action against the person who did this. A public reprimand, at least.

Bummer :(

**Framebender** · 04-13-2007, 03:57 PM

Like you, I work hard at keeping my business email free of spam. I'm sorry it happened to you.

**nsg** · 04-13-2007, 04:14 PM

what do you mean its better than porn?

**HarryChiling** · 04-13-2007, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by nsg

what do you mean its better than porn?

LOL, I didn't really mena that.:D

**chip anderson** · 04-13-2007, 05:28 PM

One of my pet gripes is our State Society has a web page showing all members Business address and does not give our phone numbers or E. Mail addresses with same. I would much prefer to have both shown. But then I do have an excellent anti-spam program running. Would be delighted if potential customers would contact us by E. Mail or phone after seeing our listing.

Chip

**HarryChiling** · 04-13-2007, 06:05 PM

Charles Chip Anderson, it does list you phone number (601)948-0582. I wouldn't mind if I was given a choice to opt in or out of a list, but to just put me on front street like that just caught me by suprise. Thanks for the comment chip.

**Mr_Mitchell** · 04-13-2007, 06:24 PM

Harry, I realize they just started spamming you, but is the PA (I assume that's the state society you refer to) state society worth joining? I took your advice and joined the OAA, so please think carefully before you reply--I'm gonna go broke!

**optical24/7** · 04-13-2007, 06:35 PM

I don't like it in my mail box or in my e-mail. Regular mail (snail) has tons of it. I'd Like to do as a comic I saw on BBC recently said...."They send me crap!..Well I send crap back to them!...I take a dump into their pre-payed envelope...And mail it back to 'im!"...

**cocoisland58** · 04-13-2007, 06:46 PM

Unless you have specifically asked them not to they can do what they wish even if it seems unethical. I have a separate email address for such things since I can almost be certain someone will share it.

**rbaker** · 04-13-2007, 07:10 PM

Professional and trade organizations have been selling member addresses and phone numbers for years. The State Motor Vehicle Department and Boards of Registration do likewise. What’s the matter with selling your email address?

**Steve Machol** · 04-13-2007, 10:06 PM

Before this goes any further, do you have any actual proof of your claims?

**icare** · 04-13-2007, 10:18 PM

These are always difficult situations to prove. Common sense takes precedence, however, and it is amazing how fast an address can 'get away.'

The POA had a list-serve and I decided to drop from it because I saw my e-mail address dished out to every Tom, Dick and Harry OD on the planet. (No offense, Doc Chiling.)

I now own a half dozen private domain names and use anonymous e-mail addresses to my advantage. When they get sloshed around enough, I just delete them and start with another fresh one. I give my personal and personal-professional addresses to only my closest friends. I have practice addresses, untraceable addresses and dedicated addresses for special purposes.

I used some creative addresses at times to see how fast they would 'get away,' too. I called one Vistakon@"...." and wanted to see if that company would dish me out to their associated cronies. Neat to watch.

For those of you that are victims of unscrupulous e-mail inclusion, try educating the perpetrators about Blind Carbon Copy mailing. Just do a search on it and it'll be pretty easy to understand. It's a much more courteous way to send mass e-mail to those you'd like to respect.

**HarryChiling** · 04-14-2007, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Machol

Before this goes any further, do you have any actual proof of your claims?

Yes, I do. I set up a forward address on one of my servers as a e-mail list so that the board members could easily communicate with each other by sending one e-maill to one address. This was the address that was blasted. I was able to go to the company address and with a little research trace it back to a former member of the board.

Originally Posted by Mr_Mitchell

Harry, I realize they just started spamming you, but is the PA (I assume that's the state society you refer to) state society worth joining?

Yes is is IF they have something to offer you. Any organization worth jining is worth joining if you get something out of it. PA just started a new organization and it's still in it's infancy and I am going to be ****** off if they squander the opportunity to make something good of it.

rbaker, cocoisland58, thanks for the comments I did want to hear more from the other side of the arguement. I don't really know how to feel about this, because I know it happens and it's almost common now adays that your e-mail will be sold, but which organizations draw the line. I thought that my state society would be one of them. Thanks for the comments.

**HarryChiling** · 04-14-2007, 03:09 PM

So so far the poll shows that 95% of people believe their state societies should keep private information to them selves and 5% believe it is Ok to for their state societies to share the information.

Thank you everyone that shared, I guess if their is a 5% margin of people that would agree with the state society sharing than I shouldn't be totally upset, how do I go about opting out, when I never opted in? That was my biggest concern, I guess I should take it up with my state society.

**HarryChiling** · 04-14-2007, 04:57 PM

It was some idiot member at a meeting, OIC Training in PA <name removed>. So it truly not a member of our society which I am glad. So the state society is good on this one and I hope them no ill will, they didn't respond very nicely but they still have my trust.

**Fezz** · 04-14-2007, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by HarryChiling

It was some idiot member at a meeting, OIC Training in PA <name reomved>. So it truly not a member of our society which I am glad. So the state society is good on this one and I hope them no ill will, they didn't respond very nicely but they still have my trust.

I am still skeptical. Maybe its just me, I don't know. I find it hard to trust a group who can't even organize itself, let along securing my personal data.

**Steve Machol** · 04-14-2007, 07:42 PM

Note: I have removed the name of the alleged offender. Naming names is not appropriate for these forums, and besides I don't really feel like being a defendant in a libel suit.

**HarryChiling** · 04-14-2007, 07:45 PM

Understood Steve, I was a little skeptical of listing it in the first place, but this jack *ss caused one of my domains to be blacklisted as a spam site and caused a whole lot of peope much grief. When I see her next I will just give her a piece of my mind.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 04-16-2007, 01:03 PM

Maybe I have a better Spam filter than you.:bbg: After one email marked as spam, you should receive no further ones.

But in any case, I agree that the state society should not be in the business of spamming. There are sites to get off home calling lists, and sites to get off spaxing lists (spam faxes), and they need one for email addresses. Problem is, so many email addys are temporary.