Okay, first let me set the tone. I AM NOT trying to be combative, or argue with the management. Just wanted to share my perspective.

I don't expect change, I just want to stimulate thought/conversation and see if I could better wrap my mind around this policy.

I just signed up for my account today and was disappointed to find that I couldn't use my standard gmail address. The policy states that these accounts are used primarily for spam and aren't checked ETC.

I wonder if this is based on some experiences that may be out dated. Me, and many of my peers use gmail exclusively for all email. In fact I forward all of my email, including the ones directed to my own domain(s) to my gmail inbox. As you might expect, I consequently check this account regularly. In fact I have access to it on my iPhone so I see it on a nearly moment by moment basis. And I have no interest in spamming.

That said, I am happy to be a new member, and I'm happy to play by the rules. I'm just wondering if this policy is prudent, since many people are moving to gmail and other webmail options as their only email account. If not for the fact that I have a couple domain(s) that are forwarded to my gmail inbox, I would not have been able to sign up!!

Anyhow, thanks for listening, and I'm open to explanation/discussion!

The opening statement of CF policy sets the tone for non-ISP accounts. The ongoing policy is for you to be watched by the Administrators/Moderators and, after a trial period, if you do not appear to be either a spammer or illegal vendor, you can return to address the request for a non-ISP account again.

.......or something like that.

Personally, if I use my gmail, verizon, or yahoo mail servers, my spamboxes go pregnant. If I use my local ISP, much less so, so there's someone out there watching me and reading everything I send/receive on a non-ISP.

There's further discussion and insight in the "Rules" and "FAQ" up in the blue bar ^^^ and in the separate thread about six lines above this one (presently) back on the main page - "Forum Rules and Guidelines".

Oops... Shoulda looked around more, sorry!

It just sorta caught me off-guard since I hadn't seen this sort of thing in any other community.

Like I said, not trying to make waves, just seemed curious to me.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming! :-)

rj, I'm strictly a civilian in here, but the ISP policy apparently works: CF is extremely clean and to the best of my knowledge no one in the Seville/Deville/Eldorado FWD community has complained about spam or hack attempts due to this site, something that does not hold true elsewhere, as you probably well know.

It still won't let me change my Email to my Hotmail account. It is actually registered to my Mom's address and I am sure by now she has it set to automatically delete any messages from here. That is why I forgot to renew my supporting membership a few months ago.

I think the only time I ever used my ISP spam account is to register here. I never get spam at Gmail so that's where all my important mail goes. I don't want to make waves either but I think that Outlook Express mail stuff is outdated; that's why I call it a spam service.

I'd love to switch to gmail...I ended up paying for a forwarding service for my AOL mail so that I could actually get the CF email without submitting myself to the torture of AOL mail...