There are some common questions that users might have because they use this forum: "If I have to use my email address to sign up, won't it be available to other users to see?" "Will I lose my privacy if it's displayed?" "I don't want people to send me email because I use the Forum."
Good news! Don't worry.
Any email address you submit here is kept private. If you click on another user's name, you might see an option to "Send PM to user", or "Send email to user", but you are never made aware of that user's address. The system sends the message for you. If it's to an email address, they'll see that it comes from the forum's own address.
And you can also configure the way that people communicate with you through the forum. If you want to just talk to other users, without email or private messages, look right below the GCSC logo, near the top of the screen. Registered users will see a menu that includes the words My Controls on it. If you click it, you'll see a menu list appear that says Email & Privacy. Click on it, and you'll see a menu like this one appear:
Notice that you can uncheck or leave the options to have email or private messages sent to you. If you leave them checked, you can also let the forum tell you by email if you have a new post or private message to read. Isn't that neat!
The same privacy settings can also show (or not) your personal information, such as birthdates, ages, or even if you're browsing the forum at that moment.
When you're finished with the settings, you just click Save at the bottom of the page, and you're done! Then you can go back to that top menu, click Messages, and go back to reading.
This forum is designed to respectfully treat your privacy like it matters, and we'd prefer it that way. I hope you enjoy using it, and communicating with your fellow GCSC members through it.
Thanks,
Eric
