FAQ - Internet mailing lists

One of the Internet's principal benefits is that it allows users to discuss and share information on many topics through the use of Mailing Lists (or "listservs"). These mailing lists are basically a forum to discuss a certain topic of information.

To subscribe to a mailing list you need to find one that has a topic that interests you. There are millions of topics out there and you can find them easily by using any of the search engines found on our searchpage. At the bottom of this page are some links to sites that contain an example of what you can find out there. For a site that has a search engine specifically for mailing lists click here.

NOTE: If you do subscribe to a mailing list make sure that you save your confirmation mail that you receive back because it contains the instructions needed to unsubscribe you from the mailing list. This will enable you do unsubscribe from the mailing list with minimal hassle. Some mailing lists have such a high volume of mail that it is very difficult to keep up with reading it all and you might not want to be receiving so much unwanted mail.

Mailing Lists

A mailing list operates by periodically sending information by e-mail to all persons who have "subscribed" to the list. Some mailing lists are "one-way" only and are often called "newsletters" or "electronic journals." Other lists are "two-way" and allow subscribers to submit messages and questions which are then sent to all other subscribers. These two-way mailing lists are often called "discussion groups" because they allow communication among the subscribers.

Many mailing list discussion groups are "moderated", meaning that a moderator screens messages for appropriateness before sending them to subscribers. With an unmoderated list, subscribers receive all messages exactly as they are submitted.

To participate in a mailing list, it is helpful to understand the different ways they are managed. Here is a brief outline of how mailing lists operate:

1. Automated Mailing Lists -- These lists are managed by using special software programs that automatically send and receive messages from subscribers. To subscribe, you must send an e-mail message in a special format to the list's "administrative address." If the list is operated as a "two-way" discussion group, there will be a separate "posting" address for sending messages to the group.

• Listserv Mailing Lists -- Most automated mailing lists are managed with a program call "listserv". There are more than 5000 of these lists, which are commonly known simply as "listservs." Because listservs are the most common type of mailing list, the word "listserv" is sometimes used generically to refer to all type of mailing lists.

• Other Automated Mailing Lists -- There are several other programs used for managing mailing lists, such as "mailserv", "majordomo" and "almanac." Mailing lists that use these other programs operate in a way similar to the more common "listservs."

2. Manual Mailing Lists -- Some smaller mailing lists are operated manually by the person managing the list. These lists usually have only one address to which all subscription requests and other messages are sent.

Some index's of mailing lists and more information

Search the List of Lists -- This site will allow you to find your specific type of mail list.

Mail List -- This site has a large list of possible mailing list servers out there.

Publicly Accessible Mailing Lists -- This directory includes information on more than 1000 mailing lists available on the Internet.

TILE.NET LISTSERV Home Page -- A directory that attempts to index all LISTSERVs available on the Internet.

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Mailing List by Jan Michael Pearson

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