Why is check_access necessary filtering user roles?

[suntrop]

I am wondering why I need to add check_access to filter user roles

// $page->members is a Page reference field to users
$members = $page->members('roles=staff, check_access=0'); // output: 4 (for none superusers)

$members = $page->members('roles=staff'); // output: 0 (for none superusers, but 4 for superusers)

 The members field is just a list of people belonging to a certain group. The group is split into users with the role 'staff' and those with just a 'member' role. I want to get only those with the staff role (and later those without that role).

[elabx]

I guess that's because users are pages under admin, so If a user with "guest" role (which is the default for every request made to the site) runs that code, it won't normally have access to that data, unles specified with check_access selector. 

[suntrop]

Well, that makes sense ?

I thought there is something wrong, but if that’s right it is ok 

thanks