The registration process goes roughly like this:

1. I get the activation option notification email from someone trying to register.
2. I check out there whois and make sure they're not from Latvia
3. If I know who they are, I activate them immediately
4. If I don't know who they are, I activate them but put them in the NewlyRegistered group, which is only allowed to post in the Registration forum
5. Once I know you're not a spammer, I'll make you a full blown posting member.

I know this is somewhat complicated, but until we move to better hosting it is what it is.

Thanks!

Move to better hosting?! But I love getting the new activated user emails with weird user names that are clearly spammers. It makes me really computer savvy since I would never fall for someone using that user name, at the same time it makes me fear for the nation as a whole that people do.....