title: Does Git publicly expose my e-mail address?
body: <p>The guides I've read so far on Git say that I should go into the config and specify my name and my e-mail address. They don't elaborate; they just say to do it.</p>
  
  <p>Why does Git need my e-mail address? And, more importantly, if I make my repo publicly available, via GitHub for example, will my e-mail address be visible to everyone (including spambots)?</p>