Dale, I recently removed my real email address when I started to receive to
much spam on regular email. Some one told me that the newgroups are scanned
and addresses are some how collected. I have not problem giving my email
address but not in the address heading of posts. I was getting over 500
spams a day. I did create a BS Yahoo account simply to collect spam. What
have others done?

"Dale Williams" > wrote in message
...
> As a well-known AFW busybody, I've periodically taken it upon myself to
post
> courtesy reminders. There is more valuable info at
> http://www.virtual-ink.com.au/afw-faq/guide.htm, as St. Helier pointed
out.
>
> First, a thought on anonymity and accountability. I run a non-profit. Our
> website includes a contact form (so anyone, even without an email address)
can
> reach me. A useful tool, but I've learned to not give much weight to
anonymous
> complaints. The same applies to Usenet. Most of the people here use their
real
> names (even if in the industry, such as M. Pronay, Craig Winchell*, or
> Robertson Chai). Some use a pseudonym, but do include a valid email
address. As
> to others, I personally don't feel that it's wise to put too much energy
into
> conversations with those who are unaccountable and unreachable. As they
say,
> YMMV.
>
> A few other points (mostly derived from previous courtesy posts):
> 1) This is Usenet , a tool for discussion. Don't expect to post something
w/o
> possibility of someone refuting it.
> 2) Please keep in mind that many of the contributors to alt.food.wine do
not
> speak English as their first language.
> 3) Let's try to avoid personal comments. If you don't like someone, filter
> their posts. The details of how to do that vary according to newsreader
> software, but tutorials exist on the Web for employing filters in all the
> popular newsreaders.
> 4) New Folks: you're here to learn, right? So if someone who has been on
AFW
> for years and serious about wine for 30+ corrects you, learn from it,
don't get
> your feelings hurt.
> 5) Old folks : remember you were new (to wine and AFW) at some point, too.
> Correct if need be, but let's try to do so graciously.
> 6) Personally, I find it less than helpful to make generalizations about
people
> based on where they live, what they do outside wine, etc.
> 7) No one is superior (In My Humble Opinion) based on either the
simplicity or
> elegance of what they eat or drink. Isn't this group big enough for
someone to
> have Shiraz with BBQed chicken and another to have rack of lamb with a
fine
> Pauillac? Does it somehow offend you to read about a meal you wouldn't eat
> yourself?
> 8)Newbies: we welcome your participation (this is speaking as someone who
has
> participated for a few years, I'm neither a true old-timer or a newbie).
But as
> in ANY social situation, whether on or off line, it is wisest not to
attack a
> respected member of a community while a newbie, it really won't win you
any
> points. It is a time-honored tradition that one should lurk for a while
before
> posting to get a feel re tone of a group.
>
> So there. I'm sure I've offended a couple of old-timers and a couple of
> newbies, but hope the rest of you can take these remarks to heart. I don't
> claim to be immune to digression (remember the "collectors recork wine
every 10
> years/chianti cannot be drunk young/Europeans are all wine sophisticates"
guy?
> I got a little over-involved); all I'm asking is that we try to keep these
> guidelines in mind.
>
> * mentioning Craig Winchell made me think that I hope many folks have
enjoyed
> his fine wines over last few nights, and reminded me to wish you all happy
> Passover or Easter, as the case may be.
>
> Best,
> Dale
>
> Dale Williams
> Drop "damnspam" to reply