Most of the regular visitors to SAG (Soccer America Graffiti) discussion boards have noted the new programming implemented this week. The response has been very positive. We appreciate the patience of everyone who has been asking for a password protected area for some time. Here are some responses to the most frequently asked questions we have received. There are also some very good responses and suggestions for clearing off all the previously read messages which have reappeared on SAG itself. Why are you now requiring a password and valid email account? We were receiving far too many complaints (and losing too many good posters!) because of a small number of individuals who spammed the boards, started non-soccer related discussions, etc. Without requiring a validated account, we had no way to block the spammers. This doesn’t mean the new system is foolproof. We do hope it will make spamming the Graffiti area enough of a hassle that it just won’t be worth it. Does this mean I must lose my anonymity? No! You can make up any username you like. You do need to provide a working email address that we can verify. However you can keep your identity confidential in two ways: you can NOT select the option to display your email address with your posts or you can set up a free web-based email account at socceramerica.net (click the FREE email link on the sidebar to your left) or at yahoo, excite, hotmail, or any number of other providers. How much does it cost to open an account? SAG accounts are FREE. Previously read posts have started showing up again. Do I really have to go back and read every one of them to get them off my monitor? Unfortunately, there was no way to keep the markers for which posts individual users had read. Even though it is an inconvenience, it seemed a better option than wiping out all the current discussions and starting the whole area over from scratch. Please remember that you do not have to actually read each post. When you first log on, or at any time if you go to “administer my account,” you have options for whether or not you want your email address displayed with your posts, whether you want your computer to remember your User Name and/or password, and whether you would like us to be able to email your password to the email address you used when you signed up for the account should you forget it. All of these options are up to you. If you tell it to remember your User Name and password, you will not have to type it in each time but this may not be a good option for you if you are using a computer that others have access to. The cookie for this is stored on your local machine, so you can tell your computer at home to remember your User name and password, and NOT store it on the computer you are using at school or work. If you haven’t tried out the new programming yet, please be our guest! Click here and give it a try. If you have any questions, please send email to rick@socceramerica.com. We’re a little overwhelmed with the volume of email coming in right now, but we will attempt to respond (or post an answer for all to see if it is a question several people have asked) as soon as we can. Thanks! Hit the net!