Access Music User Forum

EDIT 2/21/12: PROBLEMS SOLVED! -- Access has fixed the security oversight. Email addresses are now invisible by default. Issues with the unwelcome email are attributed to a language barrier, and we have worked that out, too.

Previous Post (edited):

Users should be aware that upon registering for this forum, your email address by default is visible invisibleto other members.

Less than 24 hours after registering, I was sent unsolicited commercial email (a.k.a. Spam) from someone trying to sell commercial Virus sound banks. I'm a fan of Virus TI, and that's why I'm here. I've purchased commercial sounds from third parties and will likely do so in the future. But I don't want to have what was previously a 100% private email address spammed by someone, and I think the first responsibility is on Access to protect my information. In fact, on the site registration form it says in part "We keep all your information to ourselves" and that is not true, at least not currently.

I replied to the spammer, letting them know it was inappropriate and unwelcome but I was actually checking out their demos nonetheless. I asked them to immediately stop spamming new forum users. They responded in a hostile, insulting, and obscene manner. ..Not how I would treat a customer or potential customer, or even the general public, especially around a forum that might contain a large portion of my potential sales. Because I respect other users' privacy, even when they are rude spammers, I'm not going to identify this person's username or email address here publicly. A quick search indicates that most of their first dozen posts to the forum have been spamming their "business" so you can probably figure out who the offender is on your own.

It's up to the mods whether they want to allow such people to advertise for free here on the forums. The forum rules seem to be against it, officially, but frankly I don't think it's a big deal. But not my call. However, when someone is scraping user emails and sending spam, and engaging in rude behavior after being called out on it, I don't think they should have such privileges in this community.

Above all else, what I would like to see is that new users' email addresses are hidden by default, which they currently are n't (SOLVED!). I'm sure a quick change in the admin control panel can resolve this privacy issue.

As for the offensive spammer: stop emailing me. You have been warned both privately and now publicly.

Just wanted to reiterate something:

Had I found out about these sound sets without being spammed, I probably would have purchased something. I listened to most of the demos and there were several sounds that were intriguing.

If only they would change their tactics and attitude, they might sell more sounds.

Marc -- Thanks for your quick response and action. I think that's a good call to just hide all info.

Users that wish to publicly share contact info could perhaps do so using the "Signature".

Problems solved, all around. Marc fixed the security oversight. Adam and I have worked out our differences, which seemed to have gotten off to a bad start due to a miscommunication between languages.

I'm all for users being so into the Virus that they are making and sharing new sounds, regardless of whether it's free or commercial. I think both are benefits the community and should be encouraged. I'm glad to see that Adam has released this demo bank of sounds. That's a win-win situation.

Ultimately, I want to see Access and the Virus family thrive. Music is a force that should bring people together, not push them apart.

I'm looking forward to checking out the UXS demo bank!