Mailing Lists and Other Internet Wide Discussion Lists
-refer to Chapter 7 in Learning to Use Internet and WWW

There are a variety of electronic discussion groups, mailing lists and electronic conferences on the Internet. These groups are generally used to share information, communicate ideas, ask questions and solve problems on specific topics. Mailing lists are accessed via email, unlike newsgroups that are accessed via a News server or Google Groups . Lists come and go as interest in them rises and falls.

Types of lists

Some lists are moderated, and a human monitors the messages that are added to the list and distributed to the group. Some lists are unmoderated and every message submitted is included.

Many lists are handled by a computer program called Listserv, so many of the lists are called "listservs." Other programs are also used, including Majordomo and Listproc.

Creating Your Own Email discussion List

How To Subscribe To Listserv Email discussion Lists

  1. Use your Email, send a message to the listserv or mailing list host address. If Jane Doe is subscribing to the DIG_REF mailing list, the message looks like this:

TO: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU

SUBJ: *leave empty*

subscribe DIG_REF jane doe {This goes in the body of the email message}

-THEN SEND

Note: Be sure to save your first message you receive from the list. It will have important information on unsubscribing, posting, etc.

How To Unsubscribe

  1. Use your email to send a message to the listserv or mailing list. If you were unsubscribing to Net-Happenings mailing list:

TO: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU

SUBJ: *leave empty*

unsubscribe DIG_REF {This goes in the body of the email message}

How To Find Out About And Locate Mailing Lists

Use the following links to look for mailing lists or other Internet wide discussion lists (Including Usenet Newsgroups) by subject and scholarly criteria.

1.  L-Soft Listsearch @ http://www.lsoft.com/lists/list_q.html

Sponsored by L-soft, the company that provides the listserv software. At this sight you may find the agency that sponsors the listserv, the number of subscribers, and whether the list is digested or archived at a Web site.

2. TileNet - @ http://tile.net

3. Look for email discussion groups by going to an organizations website
    - see American Psychological Association list of email discussion groups @          http://listserve.apa.org/archives/index.html

   -see SMC Message board @ http://www.smcmessageboard.com/ikonboard/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi

   - see Peace Corp discussion group @ http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former.staycon.alumnigroups.interest

Digest

Some listservs that have high traffic allow a user to set their incoming messages to digest form.  This allows your list messages come to you in 1 email rather than as individual messages.

Archives

Some listservs will archive their contents at a web or gopher site

Netiquette

  1. Read the messages on a discussion group for a while before posting to get a feel for the "culture" of the group.
  2. When you do decide to post, keep your postings short and to the point.
  3. If you decide to unsubscribe or perform other administrative tasks, be sure to send your message to the list processor computer and not to the whole list.

-----more information on netiquette @ Netiquette - Core Rules

Creating Your Own Email Discussion List

A number of Internet sites allow individuals or organizations create Email Discussion Lists.