Gmail and Googlemail can no longer be used when registering as a RFOS member.
 
Blame the spammers ... and Google
Gmail has become a haven for spammer accounts. Spammers have had a free pass ever since Gmail's signup security was defeated in early 2008:
http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2008/04/gmail-being-throttled-blocked-by-so me-anti-spam-vendors.ars
 
Over 90% of all spammer registrations on RFOS use Gmail. Blocking these on an individual basis is no longer a viable option, courtesy of the spambots and their wholesale Gmail registrations. During an average week, RFOS receives more than 100 Gmail spammer registrations.
 
Spammers may be the root cause, but Google has failed to act responsibly. Gmail is not being purged of known spammer accounts. Nor has Gmail's signup security been redesigned to defeat spammers. Google's progressive antispam measures are limited mainly to their search indexes, maps, and media offerings. Gmail, in contrast, has been neglected.
 
Gmail's use by spammers is now epidemic. With Google failing to act, site admins find their only effective recourse is to ban Gmail registrations:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/gmail/thread?tid=7881cdfc6ff05b2b&hl=e n
 
And so RFOS has followed suit.
 
 
Frequently Asked Questions
 
Why is my Gmail being blocked when I try to register on RFOS? I'm no spammer!
Your personal Gmail is not being singled out. It's just that ALL Gmail is banned for member signups. That includes Googlemail as well.
 
Googlemail ... what's that? Never heard of it.
Basically, it's Gmail by another name. Trademark disputes led Google to use Googlemail in the UK, Germany, and some other countries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gmail#GoogleMail_domain_for_certain_countries
 
Can't you make an exception for my Gmail?
Sorry, no. Our software can't handle such exceptions.
 
So what other emails can't I use when registering as a RFOS member?
The good news: No other major email provider is similarly banned on RFOS. The bad news for spammers: Known spammer emails are also banned. Which, of course, is good news for the rest of us!
 
What about using Gmail contacts in the athlete profiles? Or if I want to share my Gmail with other members via Private Messages?
No problem ... all work just fine. The Gmail ban applies ONLY to member registrations on RFOS.
 
Why pick on Gmail? Spammers also use Hotmail/Live and Yahoo, don't they?
Gmail isn't receiving unfair treatment. Spammers certainly do make use of all freemail providers. The key difference is that Hotmail/Live, Yahoo, and other major providers have taken effective steps to curtail spammer accounts. What we keep wondering: If the rest of these email providers can keep spammer activity to a minimum, why won't Google join in?
 
When will this Gmail ban end?
Whenever Google effectively polices Gmail accounts to protect the rest of us from spammers.