I apologize for the intrusive questions about age, sex, address, and so on, that Topica expects you to answer when subscribing to my newsletter. I don't want this information about you, don't use it, don't have access to it, and wish that Topica didn't ask for it. I regret it when you answer these questions against your will in order to get the newsletter and I regret it when you forgo subscribing in order to avoid answering them. There are email hosts that don't ask subscribers these intrusive questions. But unfortunately, so far, the hosts with less intrusive sign-up procedures lack other features I want. I'm still looking for a host with Topica's many virtues and none of its vices. (If you're interested, see my criteria.)

I used to be able to sign up consenting readers on my own, bypassing all the intrusive questions. But Topica recently withdrew this feature in order to assure the world that Topica list mail is always opt-in, never spam.

However, I can send anyone an email "invitation" to subscribe to the newsletter. Replying to the invitation is another way to bypass the intrusive questions. If you're reading the newsletter on the web because you prefer not to answer the questions required by the standard sign-up procedure, then send me an email at peters@earlham.edu and I'll send you an invitation.

Please let me know whether you'd like to subscribe to the newsletter, the discussion forum, or both.