Gail

Just curious -- why do so many people posting msgs. use fake e-mail addresses? I understand when the responses are less than friendly, but oftentimes, it would be nice to contact the person directly about their experiences; i.e. I have reservations at the Kiahuna Plantation and would love to e-mail with someone familiar with it.

Don

Gail--Unfortunately, a lot of the people who used real e-mail addresses here ended up later receiving a lot of spam e-mail--most of it unrelated to travel. The solution was to stop using real e-mail addresses.

It's sad that people can't respect other people's privacy online, but that's the way it is.

S

Also, if we're at work, it opens up another whole can of worms to use our e-mail address.

Owen O'Neill

Regrettably, I used my full real email address in this forum for a lenghty period of time and have now taken to using it with the #$% inserted (remove that and you will have my real email address). There are automated software programs called "spambots" that actually comb forums like this retreiving email addresses for spammer who use them to build their mailing lists. I waited to long to begin protecting myself and now receive anywhere from 2 - 15 spam mailings per day for travel, herbal viagra, get rich quick schemes, mail order diplomas - you name it and they're sending me info. Very frustrating...

Cheryl

I use my name but not my e-mail address because first of all my e-mail address would reveal my place of employment, and secondly even if it did not, I wish to protect my privacy. It's analogous to being conscious about how widely you provide other personal information about yourself, i.e., phone number, address, etc.

whoami

Because this site is very insecure by not having people register or displaying IP logs. I participate in about a dozen forums and this is the only one like this so you tend to get a lot of wackos. Just look at some of the past posts...

scigirl

I also stopped using my 'real' email address becuase I received both spam and viruses sent to me. I always use the same name, and also occasionally add my 'real' name (Anneke) but tend to avoid my real email address due to the above noted problems.

LeighAnn

Gail,
You may start posting a fake e-mail address too when you start getting e-mail from Ms. Cleo the psychic palm reader wanting to take your money. This is what happened to me. Just use common sense.

Mellie

Well, now I know why I am getting spammed..this is not my real e-mail address or name, but my real one is on others and I get so much junk, but most of it goes automatically into the trash...my cybermechanic fixed it..but my name is on here occasionally

x

If that's your fake email I sure hope you know for sure that it doesn't belong to someone else otherwise they will now be getting spam because of your inconsideration. Why don't you just use something with an invalid domain?

Arabella

I used my real name and email the first few times I posted here and was surprised to receive email from another poster. He was very helpful and courteous, but it made me uncomfortable.

Cindy

Because I want to have all communication on this board, and I don't want anyone bothering me unsolicited, even about travel. If you wish to speak to me, post here, and I'll answer you if I can. I assume others have the same feeling

Geoff

Gail
I think the other posters have given pretty accurate reasons why many people don't want to use their real email addresses. If you have questions about Kiahuna Plantation (a lovely place to stay), just post them here and I'm sure you will get all the information you need.

k

I use a fake email because I don't want to receive a lot of unwanted email, but I have to say that I've noticed that many, many people access this website from work. Perhaps I'm from the old school, thought I'm not yet 30, but when you're paid to do an honest day's work, you do it.

k

And I DO know how to spell "though." It was a typo.

hmmm

just a note on the comment about an honest day's work -- the difference is that people used to work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., have coffee breaks, get an hour for lunch, and have (relatively) lots of vacation days...I think most people who access the Web at work deserve their few seconds of distraction.

al

I use a fake address because of the small but vocal percentage of loose cannons who roam freely on this forum. I do not wish to subject myself, my family or my monkey to undue harrassment.

BTilke

I am using my real email address--one of them, anyway--and have done so for months here without any real increase in spam. I do get plenty of spam, but it started up with the CS/AOL deal, not with Fodors. I use the preview function to dump anything from senders I don't recognize and I don't open attachments unless I know who they're coming from.
I believe Fodors should require all posters to register. Their handles wouldn't have to be their real emails, but by requiring a real email address to register, Fodors could weed out a lot of the inflammatory trolls that like to roost here and also many of the attack messages by the faceless flameboys (and flamegirls).

Gail

Thanks for all your responses -- I have never had a problem with spam when posting on other travel boards, but I'll take your word for it.

Thanks for all your reponses. With all that's going on in the world right now, I guess this is a minor point.

Francis P.

I look forward to an upgrade of this site. The technology is pure 1997--I can't believe more people don't complain. Ever tried a search for a keyword on this site. You can expect to sit there for a good minute before you get a reponse. Show me one major forum site that has a response time anywhere near as lousy as this one. I'd participate more, but I refuse until they upgrade their technology AND their design. Truly a horrible site!