[h-e-w] addressing spam problem: restrict posting to members?

[David Vanderschel]

OK folks, in the opinion of your list administrator,
the spam problem on this list has gotten out of hand.
Until the system administrators back an gnu.org have
figured a better way to control it, I propose to
configure the list to permit posting by subscribers
only.  I know that this way of configuring the lists
has been discouraged, as permitting posting by
non-members makes it easy for folks involved in
related projects to use the list to make announcements
about developments on such projects even when the
announcer does not read our list.  I am willing to
forego that virtue of the traditional approach in
order cut down on the spam and the cascading problems
it has caused (and which are continuing).

I tried to get a reaction from the sysadmin folks for
Mailman at gnu.org about this; but they are not
responsive.  (I think they are still putting out even
more severe fires.)  If I change it, I would regard it
as temporary until they get a better handle on the
spam.

Since I am inclined to make the restriction, the
interesting sort of discussion on this issue would be
from anyone who favors leaving it alone.  If there is
much such dissent in that direction, then we can open
up the debate.

Regards,
  David V.