Web-based email accounts

thomas · Jul 9, 2002, 03:48

I just wanted to announce that it's no longer possible to sign up to the Japan Forum using a free web-based email account (hotmail.com, yahoo.com, excite.com etc. etc.). According to our experiences people tend to forget about these accounts, resulting in bouncing emails once the allocated account space has been exceeded.

Users who signed up with web-based email addresses will be able access their accounts normally, once they change their settings they will have to provide a new email address (e.g. the email address allocated to you by your local ISP - please check our Privacy Statement in case you have concerns about that).

Thanks for your understanding!

Maciamo · Aug 17, 2002, 17:55

This poses a problem for those who don't have any other email address. I always use hotmail and don't have any address provided by my ISP. Even if I had one, I would never check it because everybody know my hotmail address(es). I used to travel a lot and have lived in 7 different countries in the last 5 years. It's impossible for someone like me to keep a fix ISP address. What about the people having a single ISP for several people (families...) and who can't have a private ISP email address ?

I think it will limit greatly the number of potential members on this forum, what is a pity.

thomas · Aug 17, 2002, 18:37

Thanks for voicing your concerns, Maciamo. I was aware of the implications, and have to admit that I was considering to waive this policy.

It has proven nearly impossible to block all web-based email providers, they're just too abundant, secondly, as you stated, it might scare potential users away. Guess we have to live with bouncing mails.

moyashi · Aug 18, 2002, 00:52

did hotmail cancel a whole bunch of accounts recently? I remember seeing something that they changed policies or something and lot's of folks had problems. Or maybe it was just the inbox??

I can see the concern but like maciamo said ... it might not be a good idea.

how about turning off all the emails that go out on reply to messages by default. Might be a better solution.

thomas · Aug 18, 2002, 00:58

They have reduced the account size to 2 MB. Funny, I signed up for a new account, haven't used it pulicly (no mails to friends, no subscriptions, nada), nevertheless I receive one or two spams daily.

It's become a daily habit to report spam to Spamcop.

SirJeannot · Jan 21, 2003, 00:17

well, i am using an html box because my primary box reveals my first & last name

lineartube · Jan 21, 2003, 04:48

Why not delete members accounts that haven't been active in the past.... 3-5 months? That should help...

budd · Oct 22, 2003, 08:21

that would discourage members from joining again?

nikki_the_insane · Mar 5, 2004, 07:17

Originally Posted by lineartube

Why not delete members accounts that haven't been active in the past.... 3-5 months? That should help...

Instead of deleteing accounts if they're unactive, why don't you just block them until they re-activate the account. That way, if they are unactive they don't get emails and no bounce emails and what not from the forums. Then if they decide to come back and post, they just need to reactivate their account some way.

edit: Something I just thought of. If there account is unactive for like 3 months you could send them a final email saying: 'Your account has been unactivated because of inactivity for the last 3 months. You can reactivate your account 'here' if you would like." Yeah and then put a link to where you could reactivate it.

Don't take anything I say seriously, just a minor suggestion.

**Uncle Frank** · Mar 5, 2004, 07:42

the old trunk in the back of the closet. Too confusing to the "crazy ol guy"!!

Frank

Keiichi · Mar 5, 2004, 08:41

I think the downside is, a lot of people don't use their ISP accounts for this kind of stuff (or even at all, due to the fact many can't pick a good username and such, and people don't know how to use POP, or their web interface bites), which as mentioned, scares people away.

Is it possible to disable settings that sends email to those that have bounces from emails? I did that for my site once, but my user database is probably not as large as yours, and I had to do it manually. -_-

nikki_the_insane · Mar 5, 2004, 08:56

I have a comcast.net account and if you go to their webpage they have a tutorial on how to set up your POP3 account. I had to do that to put it on Outlook Express because I didn't know how to and my dad (who's the only one who knows how to do it) was away on a business trip. I'm sure that other ISP providers have a POP tutorial.

Jul 9, 2002, 03:48	#1
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Web-based email accounts I just wanted to announce that it's no longer possible to sign up to the Japan Forum using a free web-based email account (hotmail.com, yahoo.com, excite.com etc. etc.). According to our experiences people tend to forget about these accounts, resulting in bouncing emails once the allocated account space has been exceeded. Users who signed up with web-based email addresses will be able access their accounts normally, once they change their settings they will have to provide a new email address (e.g. the email address allocated to you by your local ISP - please check our Privacy Statement in case you have concerns about that). Thanks for your understanding! __________________ Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head! Last edited by thomas; Jul 9, 2002 at 03:53.

Aug 17, 2002, 17:55	#2
Maciamo Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Jul 17, 2002 Location: Austrasia Posts: 6,647	This poses a problem for those who don't have any other email address. I always use hotmail and don't have any address provided by my ISP. Even if I had one, I would never check it because everybody know my hotmail address(es). I used to travel a lot and have lived in 7 different countries in the last 5 years. It's impossible for someone like me to keep a fix ISP address. What about the people having a single ISP for several people (families...) and who can't have a private ISP email address ? I think it will limit greatly the number of potential members on this forum, what is a pity. __________________ Over 100 destinations in the Japan Sightseeing Guide + detailed Tokyo Guide and Kyoto Guide Eupedia : Your Guide to Europe in English Read the "Maciamo FAQ" "What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?", Winston Churchill.

Aug 18, 2002, 00:52	#4
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	did hotmail cancel a whole bunch of accounts recently? I remember seeing something that they changed policies or something and lot's of folks had problems. Or maybe it was just the inbox?? I can see the concern but like maciamo said ... it might not be a good idea. how about turning off all the emails that go out on reply to messages by default. Might be a better solution. __________________ crazy gonna crazy

Jan 21, 2003, 00:17	#6
SirJeannot \�/ Join Date: Jan 7, 2003 Location: Europe Age: 26 Posts: 139	well, i am using an html box because my primary box reveals my first & last name __________________ desu!

Jan 21, 2003, 04:48	#7
lineartube free spirit Join Date: Oct 29, 2002 Location: Vila Franca de Xira/Portugal Age: 33 Posts: 389	Why not delete members accounts that haven't been active in the past.... 3-5 months? That should help... __________________ Ln.

Aug 17, 2002, 18:37	#3
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Thanks for voicing your concerns, Maciamo. I was aware of the implications, and have to admit that I was considering to waive this policy. It has proven nearly impossible to block all web-based email providers, they're just too abundant, secondly, as you stated, it might scare potential users away. Guess we have to live with bouncing mails.

Aug 18, 2002, 00:58	#5
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	They have reduced the account size to 2 MB. Funny, I signed up for a new account, haven't used it pulicly (no mails to friends, no subscriptions, nada), nevertheless I receive one or two spams daily. It's become a daily habit to report spam to Spamcop.

Oct 22, 2003, 08:21	#8
budd __________ Join Date: Jul 10, 2003 Posts: 1,972	that would discourage members from joining again? __________________ ttp://www.tcvb.or.jp/

Mar 5, 2004, 07:17	#9
nikki_the_insane Ramen Lover :3 Join Date: Oct 31, 2003 Location: Under my refridgerator Age: 21 Posts: 223	Originally Posted by lineartube Why not delete members accounts that haven't been active in the past.... 3-5 months? That should help... Instead of deleteing accounts if they're unactive, why don't you just block them until they re-activate the account. That way, if they are unactive they don't get emails and no bounce emails and what not from the forums. Then if they decide to come back and post, they just need to reactivate their account some way. edit: Something I just thought of. If there account is unactive for like 3 months you could send them a final email saying: 'Your account has been unactivated because of inactivity for the last 3 months. You can reactivate your account 'here' if you would like." Yeah and then put a link to where you could reactivate it. Don't take anything I say seriously, just a minor suggestion. __________________ Ramen Lover

Mar 5, 2004, 07:42	#10
Uncle Frank You SPAM/We BAN ! Join Date: May 21, 2003 Location: State of Maine Age: 59 Posts: 6,715	Ok, Quit Dragging These Old Posts Out Of.... the old trunk in the back of the closet. Too confusing to the "crazy ol guy"!! Frank

Mar 5, 2004, 08:41	#11
Keiichi Hi Join Date: Mar 9, 2003 Posts: 818	I think the downside is, a lot of people don't use their ISP accounts for this kind of stuff (or even at all, due to the fact many can't pick a good username and such, and people don't know how to use POP, or their web interface bites), which as mentioned, scares people away. Is it possible to disable settings that sends email to those that have bounces from emails? I did that for my site once, but my user database is probably not as large as yours, and I had to do it manually. -_- __________________ K1

Mar 5, 2004, 08:56	#12
nikki_the_insane Ramen Lover :3 Join Date: Oct 31, 2003 Location: Under my refridgerator Age: 21 Posts: 223	I have a comcast.net account and if you go to their webpage they have a tutorial on how to set up your POP3 account. I had to do that to put it on Outlook Express because I didn't know how to and my dad (who's the only one who knows how to do it) was away on a business trip. I'm sure that other ISP providers have a POP tutorial.

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