[RTC List] Mistaken listserv mailing

[Larry Goldberg]

PLEASE NOTE: I am sending this to the RTC list because I feel it's a  
matter for all concerned, but normally I would just respond privately.

For what it's worth, I received one of these yesterday from Libby (who  
is a well-respected community member and very Internet-savvy).  I  
wrote to her directly and got an e-mail from her very quickly stating  
that the mailing was a mistake.  She signed up for Reunion.com and the  
system automatically sent a mailing to her entire address book upon a  
prompt to connect to friends.  For one thing, I think this is a  
disreputable and unprofessional process for any website to do, yet  
alone a commercial social networking website.  I was suckered into  
this site as well and it wasn't at all clear that this process (of e- 
mailing to your entire address book) would happen if you signed up.   
It was clearly an unknowing mistake on Libby's part to let this  
happen, but it should be a good lesson for all of us to avoid any  
website which may automatically e-mail to personal address lists.  We  
all need to be careful when we sign up for anything on the Internet  
and be especially careful with social networking sites which, in their  
attempt to be "helpful" can actually cause harm.

On May 28, 2008, at 6:19 PM, G W Bell wrote:

>
> I hope this was a mistake.  Or maybe RTC is getting into the reunion  
> business?!
>
> ________________________________
>> Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 10:48:49 -0700
>> From: libby at inkpeople.org
>> To: list at redwoodtech.org
>> Subject: [RTC List] Please connect with me :)
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I looked for you on Reunion.com, but you weren't there. Please  
>> connect with me so we can keep in touch.
>> —Libby
>>
>> Do You Know Libby?
>> YES — Connect with Libby, and see who's searching for you.
>>
>> Learn more:
>> http://www.reunion.com/libby4636b
>>
>>
>> [http://affiliates.reunion.com/ads/images/reunionlogo174x65.gif]
>> Reunion.com - Life Changes. Keep in Touch.™
>> You have received this email because a Reunion.com Member sent an  
>> invitation to
>> this email address. For assistance, please refer to our FAQ or  
>> Contact Us.
>> Our Address: 2118 Wilshire Blvd., Box 1008, Santa Monica, CA  
>> 90403-5784
>
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