The methods of mailing lists


A. How much do you know about mailing lists? Try to fill in the missing words. Then read the text more carefully.

1. A ............................. is a discussion forum where participants subscribe to a list and receive messages via e-mail.
2. In a discussion list you receive the messages directly into your ............................ .
In a newsgroup, however, you read the articles that are stored in one .............................. .
3. To receive messages from a mailing list, first you need to ............................... to it.
4. Some lists may be ............................ to certain professionals, requiring specific qualifications to join them.
5. Each list has two addresses: (i) ......................................, and (ii) ............................. .
6. Mailing lists usually have a FAQ file. FAQ is an acronym for ...................................................... .


Text:

What is a mailing list?

A mailing list is a basic type of discussion group that uses e-mail to communicate. The messages are distributed to all the subscribers, i.e. everyone that belongs to the list. There are thousands of lists covering every imaginable topic, from hobbies and music to news and science.

Types of lists

  • Discussion lists let you send and receive messages, providing a discussion forum for the participants; but they're different from newsgroups. In a discussion list you receive the messages directly into your e-mail box. In a newsgroup you read the articles, ie, messages posted by contributors that are stored in one central location.

  • One-way lists only let you receive messages, not send them. They're good for busy people who only wish to receive broadcast information.

  • Some lists can be received as a periodic "digest". This contains a lot of messages which have been grouped together and sent as a single message.

  • Other lists are restricted to certain users, requiring specific qualifications to join them. For example, a list about the science of stars and planets may be restricted to astronomers.

How to subscribe

Before you can start receiving messages from a list you need to subscribe to it. This process adds your e-mail address to the list.
If the list is automated (controlled by a computer program like listserv, listproc, or majordomo) you usually write in the body of the message:
<subscribe listname>
where "listname" is the name of the list. The address has the form
<majordomo@address.site>

You can quit a mailing list at any time. To unsubscribe you just need to write
<unsubscribe listname>
or, if this doesn't work, try
<signoff listname>

If the list is administered by a person, just send a message to the human moderator saying something like <please subscribe me to the list>. The address has the form

<list-request@address.site>.

Remember that each list has two addresses: (i) the administrative address, used to subscribe and unsubscribe , and (ii) the list address, used to distribute the messages to everyone on the list.

Tips

When you join a list, you receive a confirmation message and some instructions about how to unsubscribe. Save this information, you may need it in the future.

Some lists have a FAQ (frequently asked questions) document with the most common questions asked by newbies (new contributors). Read this file if you have any problem.

Avoid flame wars. Flames are insulting messages directed at each other in discussion forums.

When you go on holiday , remember to unsubscribe from lists temporarily. Otherwise your mailbox may overflow with messages.

The Publicly Accessible Mailing Lists Website will help you find the mailing list that interests you. Go to http://www.neosoft.com/internet/paml and choose an index by name or by subject.

You can also try Liszt, a famous list directory , at http://www.liszt.com.



B. Now complete the sentences using the text above to help you. Then write the words in the puzzle to discover the missing word.

1. A...................... mailing lists are controlled by a special computer program.
2. The process of subscribing adds your e ................... address to the list.
3. A d ....................... is a type of list that groups individual messages together and sends them periodically as one message.
4. In newsgroups, the messages posted by contributors are called "a ............................" .
5. Insulting or insensitive messages directed at each other in a discussion forum are known as f................... .
6. New participants in discussion forums are also called "n ..................".
7. If you want to get off a mailing list, you just type the command u.............................. followed by the name of the list.
8. The lists a ....................... by a human moderator usually have the word "-request" in the address.

 

Key

Exercise A

1. A mailing list is a discussion forum where participants subscribe to a list and receive messages via e-mail.
2. In a discussion list you receive the messages directly into your e-mail box. In a newsgroup, however, you read the articles that are stored in one central location.
3. To receive messages from a mailing list, first you need to subscribe to it.
4. Some lists may be restricted to certain professionals, requiring specific qualifications to join them.
5. Each list has two addresses: (i) the administrative address, and (ii) the list address.
6. Mailing lists usually have a FAQ file. FAQ is an acronym for frequently asked questions.

Exercise B

1. Automated
2. e-mail
3. digest
4. articles
5. flames
6. newbies
7. unsubscribe
8. administered