Hi Liz: I agree that the information "should not be sold" but unfortunately this often happens. I suspect this is something that a concerned "forum visitor" should address with every potential forum. It seems to me that however one looks at it, the sale of our information makes it seem like we as a community are property to the web-site owners. If the complained of deal would have been acceptible to the principals of the sale, we of the community would be "sold" with nary a clue until it was over. Sometimes I think we have become a society of form-filler-outers....we are asked for and do give out our information, one has to wonder why the companies want that information at all.....but my comment was basically made only to point out that like it or not we as community members are exchanging something for the benefits of using computer space....often it is good to think about these things. I do think that one benefit to 'balance" against the inevitable "database" for dollars approach is that as a community of poser artists and enthusiasts we do get exposure to new information and our works are "exposed". In terms of advertising that is worth $$'s. I am not an advocate for the sale of individual information, I don't even like to fill in the surveys, but I also am practical enough to know that the phone calls and the flood of junk mail is proof positive of advertising at work. The internet just takes a lot of the work out of it, we log on, fill in and expose our information...often without thinking about anything but that flashy screen... Lorraine