I don’t think spam was the issue at all. My guess relates to things like harassment, threats and abuse. We are a pretty civilized bunch here, but this is the internet, and the free boards are even open to anyone with an email address. Can all that be managed with some active attention? Yeah, probably. Does TMF have the resources to devote to that level of policing? The level that lets them go into court when being sued with a good case for having made a real effort to control things? Yes, the lawyers said NO, as I understand it. However that No might have been phrased as “this is what you are letting yourselves in for if you go with Yes”. I’d rather have the ability to make contact outside the boards, but not if the price to TMF is too high.
But the delete problem has nothing to do with sending private emails: anyone can see a post I delete simply by clicking on the orange edit pencil icon!
The “delete problem” is just a 24 hour grace period to allow you to change your mind before the post is permanently deleted. See thread on New Site Help and Feedback.
Yes, I started that thread. 
But it’s still daft that people other than the original poster can see the post if they delete it, even if it’s only for 24 hours.
Arguably daft, but not as daft as it remaining permanently available! 
True. We’ll see what happens in a few hours with rainphakir’s deleted post above.
Yes, that would work, but that just emphasizes how wrong it is for a deleted post to be viewable - even if it’s only for 24 hours - by people other than the poster!
Yep. Sure could. 987654321
Aww man! My post is gone!
I loved that post!
ralph
Yup, so it is. Looks like the 24 hour grace period before a post is permanently deleted is real. That’s fine, but it’s still wrong to allow those other than the original author to view it during that time. Oh well, I’m now done beating this horse. 