New in March (2007)

Ack! I found an issue.

I run a group called the Friends group and a similar group in the same city is called the Activities group. The problem is that we are both listed under the "friends" category.

We have a lot of cross over membership, same members and same type of activities sometimes. Since the email list are generic addresses that pulls from our category our email addresses look extremely similar. This is not good. I don't like that there is not a VERY CLEAR distinction between the two different groups. I realize that the group numbers are different but you have to be paying attention. I imagine this will cause a LOT of confusion about which group is sending the email. Can we do anything about this?!?!?

Example:

So for my group my website is friends.meetup.com/168

When I send an email out through the mailing list it shows up as friends-168@meetup.com

The activities website is friends.meetup.com/201

Emails from that group list will be friends-201@meetup.com

This is NOT good!

Does this mean ANYONE can use the e-mail system without logging in? For example, could I e-mail all the members of your scifiwriting group by using the standard mailto format?

-- Todd

Nope -- only members who are in the group can post. If you try to post to a group from an email address that is not registered in the group, your email will bounce.

Keith

Just thought of something else,

Let's say member A sets their email list to receive messages on the mailing list from the organizer only. Member B emails the group on the list, I reply back. Does member A now get that email even though it's only a response back to Member B or will the program recogonize that and not send the message to Member A?

Was that confusing?

Do members that set their accounts to receive only from the organizer ONLY get special announcements?

Nope -- only members who are in the group can post. If you try to post to a group from an email address that is not registered in the group, your email will bounce.

Keith

OK. On Meetup's e-mail list system, is there any way for an Organizer to moderate a member who might sometimes post in violation of a group's posting standards? Or is the only option to boot them out of the group completely?

-- Todd

Do members that set their accounts to receive only from the organizer ONLY get special announcements?

Yes, that's right. Members who set their account to receive mail only from the Organizer ONLY receive special announcements.

Do members that set their accounts to receive only from the organizer ONLY get special announcements?

Yes, that's right. Members who set their account to receive mail only from the Organizer ONLY receive special announcements.

So, let me get this straight.
A member, thinking they are going to recieve all emails the organiser sends, will in fact not get ANY, except special announcements. Leading to why was I not told complaints.

The organiser who thinks they are sending something that is not a special announcement will find that many members do not in fact get their email. Leading to why was I not told complaints.

This explains a lot.

The setting description is then, up to the standard of the rest of the release. - Pants.

Come on Meetup. You really can do better. Where has the old ethic gone?

Len

Reply to Christina K.

This new system is fatally flawed not only in application, but even greater in design. It is based on ludicrous assumptions such as that the members want lots more e-mail. It is ironic that Christina
praised the effects of having large numbers of e-mail back and forth while she herself blocks all e-mails to her account. Also, the protections from spam Christina lists are ridiculous. Any spammer can join and send messages to the lists. The meetup sites under threat of spam attacks are the ones with the largest membership. I have already seen it happen and I turned them in to Meetup.com staff. The only thing that prevents an entire collapse of Meetup.com into a sea of e-mails is the good sense of organizers of large meetup groups to not activate the membership lists and also the many members who realize that a sea of e-mails including spam would come.

Most important, it is an outrage that organizers' ability to hide their private e-mail address when sending out group e-mails has been taken away. Taken away without even any warning. I was one of the lucky ones who noticed that there was no option anymore to hide my personal e-mail address and did not send the e-mail. Others were not so lucky, and their personal e-mail addresses are out there perhaps in the hands of a spammer right now. The silly excuse given to take it away is that only 5% of the organizers hide their e-mail addresses. That 5% would be the organizers of the largest meetup groups, so it is not really a small amount afterall in terms of members.

I can't run my three meetup groups without sending group e-mails, and I can't send group e-mails without hiding my e-mail address. Who is responsible for these changes? I can't help but conclude that they are not fit for the job. They took a system that was working and turned it into a mess that is a paradise for spammers. I have a long extensive history of computer work and the internet and I have never seen anything messed up as bad as this. They should remember that it is the organizers who are paying the bills on Meetup.com.

Howard S., Organizer
San Francisco Wine Meetup Group
Walking in San Francisco for Health and History
Indian Food Lovers

Do members that set their accounts to receive only from the organizer ONLY get special announcements?

Yes, that's right. Members who set their account to receive mail only from the Organizer ONLY receive special announcements.

So, let me get this straight.
A member, thinking they are going to recieve all emails the organiser sends, will in fact not get ANY, except special announcements. Leading to why was I not told complaints.

The organiser who thinks they are sending something that is not a special announcement will find that many members do not in fact get their email. Leading to why was I not told complaints.

Yep, this could be explained more clearly. Even I found the wording confusing at first. Can we have pop-up boxes that we can click with more information? When I looked at the More Info text in my account section under memberships, the link did not go anywhere.

Hmm

Yep, this could be explained more clearly. Even I found the wording confusing at first. Can we have pop-up boxes that we can click with more information? When I looked at the More Info text in my account section under memberships, the link did not go anywhere.

Hmm

The 'More Info' link should have brought up a pop-up box that reads:

Mailing list preferences

This section lists all of your Meetup Groups. From here you can set your preferences for each group mailing list, or even leave a group completely.

Mailing lists let every member of a group send email to everyone else in the group, right from their email account. It's a great way to discuss where to meet, what to talk about and who' s bringing what, without having to keep checking the Meetup.com website.

Only Orgs and Ass't Orgs: By choosing this option, you will only receive messages that are sent to the group by the organizers or assistant organizers.

Everyone, Daily Digest: This option is like a daily newsletter. You will receive all messages to the mailing list, but combined into one daily email.

Everyone, Immediately: This option works like regular email. You will receive all mailing list messages as soon as they are sent.

If you aren't seeing this pop up, what browser/version are you using?

Andrea

OK. On Meetup's e-mail list system, is there any way for an Organizer to moderate a member who might sometimes post in violation of a group's posting standards? Or is the only option to boot them out of the group completely?

-- Todd

We do have the option to make your entire list moderated (so that when someone posts, the org/assts must approve the post before it is sent out to the list). But if you moderate, it will be for the entire group -- you cannot do it on a member-by-member basis.

Keith