I moderate two tribes of very personal subjects, which the members of (in both cases) have felt much safer having be entirely private. For this reason, on both tribes, I chose the setting that only the moderator could approve membership requests. In various ways, I had the existence of these tribes listed. It was not difficult for anyone to post to me and ask for membership.

Both of these tribes are about certain aspects of mental illness; some members are not always very clear-headed. While I was away recently and unaware of the change in options for membership, the least stable member on one tribe added someone to our membership who went on a total rampage, destroying much of the trust and safety which had previously existed.

I REALLY do think that the option of membership through the moderator only should and needs to be reinstated for private tribes.