ADMIN: Possible Change to the Main List Settings

[Amy Z]

Iggy wrote:

> It may seem innocent to most, but unfortunately there are some 
people
> who could have their lives made a little more difficult if certain
> people read some of their posts.

I agree.  I have had times in the past when the difference between 
posting to a private (albeit open and large) group and posting to the 
internet at large would have been very significant for me.  As it is, 
though my life would not be substantially affected were someone to 
Google my HPfGU posts, I speak differently to the group than to the 
public.  For one thing, in public life I try to maintain enough 
dignity not to drool openly over fictional characters.

When people post now, they are posting to a community.  Some may not 
know that their words aren't Googlable; most, I'm sure, don't care 
one way or another.  But the few who do know and care should not have 
the terms changed after the fact.  

So I think the stuff currently in the archives should be members-
only.  I'm all for having open archives from now on--or, better, 
starting from a date a month or two hence, for people to get used to 
it and so that people who wish to alter their writing for the public 
eye won't have old stuff quoted out in the open.  (There's still a 
chance that a very old post will be quoted and thus Googlable, but 
such occurrences are very rare.)

My 2 Knuts,
Amy Z