Is it ok to reset members email options within the group?

I just went through the members list yesterday for my group, and noticed that half my members chose the "no email" setting. I feel that if you join an email group, you should at least choose to get special notices. My reasoning is that you "could" forget you joined a group, and without the mods being able to send special notices you would just be a "quiet" member. Not really there, not really participating, but taking up residency. I do not mind members having conversation outside the group (that is what it's for, making friends) but I do mind when we have no activity, and half of total group not getting reminded they are still in a group.





Is this wrong? I changed the "no email" to "special notices" already, and then sent out an email explaining what I did and why. I had a reply, basically saying that some people just do not want email, but do go and read the postings. Should I make it an option again?





Thank you in advance.

Is it ok to reset members email options within the group?
Of COURSE you should make it an option again. If you are offended or slighted that some folks don't want to participate in the way that you see fit, then you could establish a group with very clear guidelines from the start. Anything else is clearly an attempt to control the behaviour of others. And really, you have to ask yourself, how much time do you really want to spend micromanaging the group?


Some people are too shy to commit to communication until they get to know others in the group or until they see where the group is headed.


If you really want to insist that members take at least minimal contact, then it should be established at the point of joining, NOT later.


Maybe start a new group where this is the case, and dissolve the current group, sending regrets to the current members where they are invited to transfer if agreed?





Or, accept that maybe the group can grow on its own and all you can ever hope to do is direct it and shape it, and if it fails, it fails.





Good Luck!
Reply:Interesting question.





I think that for almost all groups, a policy of "special notices" as minimum is totally acceptable.





Consider this scenario :


One of your members accidentally sends a virus.


If you only read the website of the group - you could accidentally get and open said virus.


If an owner or a moderator sends a special notice - you`ll be warned so much quicker.





However, people being who they are, i do not think you will get much support from some people, and might even lose members over this.


You have to decide if it is worth it - although i think if you join a group, you should participate.