The bigger we get, the more annoying is our members database. Every day I get some number of requests to change email address, to unsubscribe, or bogus subscriptions which need to be deleted. Further, we always have a couple hundred bogus email addresses in the database.

Think about this: We really don't need a "members database". Membership in Ajax USA really should just be an email-notification service, where any damn person can subscribe/unsubscribe, change their address. I'm convinced that nobody uses the members area anyway. I would rather have a fully self-service email service.

Fortunately, Greenspun, who provides our bboards, also provides a service perfect for our needs. There are two things that matters to us: the ability to communicate to our members, and the ability to know how many people are subscribed at any given time. If this solution offers both, then I'd like to transition to it. But let's test it first.

Click here to subscribe so we can begin testing this proposed new solution.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

Answers

The one negative about this Greenspun Spam tool (well, besides the name) is that there's no password protection. So, *if* another user knows your email address and wants to remove you, there's no way to prevent it. But then, how often would that happen? There would be no 'members list' available anywhere, so malicious users would have to 'guess.' Doesn't seem a problem to me.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2001

Here's the pain in the ass again...

I think it would be a shame if we stop using the members database. I use it all the time. I have the email addresses for you guys (Jim, Ben and a couple of others) in my Hotmail address book, but I'm in touch with quite a lot of other Ajax USA members and I always look their addresses up in the members database.

Also, it's a great way to establish contact with - for example - a Danish Ajax fan when the team plays a European game there, or something. I know Bill Bryden has used the members database a few times, to contact Ajax fans in his are in England.

I seriously think the members database is one of the coolest things about Ajax USA.

Also:

1) If the new system on Greenspun is as frequently screwed up as the dicussion forum they're hosting, I think we would get into serious trouble. The email alert service of our forum has been out of order for weeks and weeks in a row during the summer.

2) If everyone has to register again for the new service, we'll lose hundreds of members who simply won't bother. And I'm so proud of what we have now - with all the Egyptians Polish folks. I've worked hard for that... The hard core will of course subscribe again, but I think the less fanatical folks are equally important.

Why do you want to get rid of the current system anyway? It's working perfectly. Okay: you have to delete and edit memberships - and the bigger we get, the more work it'll be. But is it really so much hassle?

We can delete all the bogus memberships together when I'm in California (or when you're here in Amsterdam) and move the people listed as living in 'Other' countries to their right countries.

I say: don't let go of what we have - and I think moving our entire members system to an "epileptic" host such as Greenspun is asking for trouble.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2001