"changed" field should be deleted

> > There is a general problem with publicly available email contact
> > information.  I would prefer to solve the general problem.
> 
> I'd say that if you are out to generalize, there is a general
> problem of SPAM.  Why not solve that instead? 1/2 :-)

Without a doubt... SPAM is the problem and states in the US are working on
legislation to dampen it and ISP's IAP's are moving forcibly to compile info on
spammers and to knock them off when they receive spam.  The general public
has been a bit slow to realize how to report spam,  which is why it was able to
get so out of hand, to begin with.

> 
> Seriously, I think that effectively removing contact information
> from the database is much too similar to sawing off your foot at
> the knee because you have an itch in one of your toes.

As far as I know,  I was the only one to use your CHANGE information and 
since I've been educated on the fact (I guess... :-)  )  that it is historical, 
I'll make the extra efforts to exclude it in anti-spam notices...  

Tell me,  has anyone else used your change information in the whois 
databases??  

> In all, I have serious misgivings about this general idea of
> removing contact information from the database.
 This is an important,  universal argument that applies to virtually all sources of 
information... the information used properly is a great thing.... if used improperly 
by ignorance, than new information and learning is required.  If used 
intentionally for abusive purposes (ie. spam, malicious harassment, 
endangerment, threats, etc.)  then the proper action to take seems to be 
identifying the abuser and punishing them.

Hopefully,  most people are good and honest and prone to mistakes.  Only the
minority that intentionally abuses the data should be restrained or restricted 
from future abuses.... (whack their fingers off!!!   :-)   )

You all seem to be very intelligent... sorry if my first reply to you all was a bit
harsh (my reaction to the "lamer" comments ...),  all of you are very capable of
having very meaningful dialogues....   my mail server was down for about two or 
three days and when it came back up the lamer post was the first one I saw...

Take care...



> 
> - Håvard
> 


    s/James Leonard
BRG Customer Service - Belltown Research Group, Seattle, WA USA
http://www.speakeasy.org/~belltown
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