Subscribing to threads and forums

[l.j./1999 1]

I've tried to subscribe to certain threads that I wanted to follow, but never got any e-mail updates as I was expecting. Is it an issue with my spam filter? I've gotten some e-mails from VJ in the past but it seems I'm no longer getting them. I also was not notified of some recent PMs.

Is there anything I should change in my settings, either on VJ or in my e-mail account, to make sure I receive e-mails from VJ? Thanks!

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

Hard to say. Emails are properly sent out from this end. We also properly add domainkey and spf record to all our emails. Even so your email provider can possibly delay emails or put them in a bulk folder without you asking. Yahoo is notorious for slow email delivery but I am not sure for yours.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

I looked at our email server logs and it looks like your email provider states that if we send "too many emails" to you then they will automatically call them "mass mail". They then begin to block a degree of the incoming emails (as you have noticed). This is clearly a very bad policy that any reputable email provider would not have. They are making the decision "for you" that if you get too much email from one person (or on other accounts that they have) that they automatically call it "mass mail" and then they block it. They even go on to say "We Eliminate mass mailings during peak business hours". Basically they bounce and deny incoming emails during peak hours for anything they consider mass mail.

I would suggest you switch email providers to prevent this. I recommend gmail.com, hotmail.com, and as a last resort yahoo.com.

[l.j./1999 1]

Wow! Thanks for the info, Captain Ewok, I had no idea my e-mail provider has such an odd policy! I've used this e-mail account for several years now for various online forums and mailing lists, and this is the first time I've encountered this sort of problem.

I will look into switching to another mail provider, and in the meantime I'll just turn off my subscriptions.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

No probs . One advantage I have is that I can look at the raw email logs (people almost never check them) and I saw your email provider bouncing emails. At least they bounced them with a link to the message. The message contained basically what I posted above.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

As an FYI I contacted your email provider and they have lifted the block. Emails should get through ok now but still be careful with the notes above .

[mox 298]

Dear god that's a retarded policy. I manage several big mail servers and haven't come across something like that yet. I'm pretty sure that breaks an RFC or two.

l.j./1999, I don't know if you still need invites to get into GMail, but PM me if you do and I'll send you an invite. I've got about a million of 'em so if anyone else needs one too, just holler.

[l.j./1999 1]

Thanks so much, Captain! I will definitely heed all your notes about my e-mail provider and look for an alternative service.

mox, thanks for the offer, but luckily Gmail doesn't seem to require an invitation anymore. I will try that or Hotmail, just have to test it out on both my home and work computer as they have different setups.

All of this makes me wonder how many other e-mails have been getting bounced back from my account without me knowing it! Would never have figured out if not for Visajourney

[mox 298]

mox, thanks for the offer, but luckily Gmail doesn't seem to require an invitation anymore. I will try that or Hotmail, just have to test it out on both my home and work computer as they have different setups.

No prob. Don't do Hotmail. Just...don't. Every person I know with Hotmail accounts have had emails disappear randomly, have been locked out of their accounts for hours at a time (with no explanation), and have just had a generally sub-par experience. Not to mention the ads they stick at the bottom of every email you send. GMail has no ads, and I can count the problems I've had accessing my GMail account on no hands.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

Gmail is my first choice as well.

[l.j./1999 1]

I created a new Gmail account today (no invitation needed) and changed my VJ profile to point to that address. It will take a little getting used to, but I think this is going to work! Thanks for all the advice