Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I'm concerned that messages to this board are being tampered with. These posts concern our Zion and its future. However, other satanic posts, and pornographic messages have no problem with being posted to the board without being filtered or deleted. What's going on?!! Is it me or is there a malicious spirit alive and well on this discussion board?

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

Answers

[Sigh]....I'll pretend that your post isn't a slam against me, but since you opened the door, here I come.

Technically, the posts are not being tampered with; A person is posting a "message" with code that changes the style of all messages for that thread. The data is still there.

I fix them as you alert me. I delete them as you notify me. My deputies and I work around the clock to accomplish this, but we have to eat and sleep and work. Will I deputize more people? Perhaps, but only after I can verify your identities and knowledge of HTML.

Now, as to controls this board: No one does. This board is a love gift from Dr. Phil Greenspun. There is no charge for this board. Security-wise, the discussion board is wide-open. It was not designed to stop malicious people; they didn't exist when it was created. There are no filters. I am its current moderator, having been nominated in the wake of the Late Rev. Fisher's passing.

The only way to minimize the demonic posts we are getting is to move the board. The problem is that the majority of the people don't want to go to a different board. A different board would cost money, since it would have to be on a hosted site, and hosted sites generally don't let you run free bbs software (security holes).

So, until the majority of the people get sick and tired of the posters, the board stays here.

One last thing: Where are the satanic and pornographic posts you speak of? I will delete the ASAP?

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

Rev. Harper,

We honor you and your deputy's service. Thank You.

There are a couple of posts having problems...1)Are We Really A Church On A Mission?, 2)Church Discipline. Oddly enough, these area the only two posts with 'Church' in the title on the New Postings board.

In His Service,

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

What about Yahoo Groups? It's free and there are security conrols. Members who wish to contribute or read posts must sign up. If need be there is even a member approval process.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

Again, the problem is people don't want to change........

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

Dear LovingLife,

WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE!

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

I don't have that big a problem with greenspun.com, and I appreciate the fact that the service is a love offerring from this organization. As far as Yahoo Groups is/are concerned, my sorority has two discussion groups on Yahoo, so it is quite secure. Thanks.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

I would also like to point out that Rev. John Harper is doing an excellent job as administrator of this board. We are very fortunate to have him in the AME church.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2004

I totally agree with Jazzman. Here here!

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2004