Delivered to your computer. Internet mailing lists, called LISTSERVs, create the opportunity for two-way communication. Through e-mail, you can post messages or ask questions, and other members of the list will respond almost immediately.
The list became widespread on the Internet in 1986, a full four years before the World Wide Web.
LISTSERVs tend to be more focused because it's necessary to send a subscribe command to read or comment on messages. The moderator or list owner may be an expert on the list subject.
LISTSERVs differ from usenet newsgroups in how messages are distributed. For a newsgroup, you use your news reader application, usually included with your browser or e-mail program, to read messages that might interest you. The LISTSERV, in contrast, sends out messages to all "subscribers" and the messages come into your electronic mailbox the same way regular e-mail does. Whether this is an advantage or not depends on the list and your interest in receiving e-mail. LISTSERV was developed by L-Soft.com. L-SOFT hosts a search engine for CataList. Topics found on mailing lists vary considerably. Some deal with scientific and professional topics, and others are of general interest, offering a wide range of information and entertainment, including NITPICK-L, the Star Trek Nitpicker's Guide.
The volume of traffic on a LISTSERV varies from a message every week or so to more than a hundred a day, so be cautious before subscribing.
Of course, the first step in subscribing to a LISTSERV is finding the ones that cover your areas of interest. More than 30,000 lists exist, but searchable lists can be found on the Web at several addresses. Not every site lists every LISTSERV, so you may have to check more than one:
The largest directory of mailing lists is probably tile.net, which offers a quick search engine and in-depth information on many of the lists indexed there.
That site, tile.net, has specific instructions for each list.
If your search of tile.net doesn't yield what you're looking for, you can also try some of the smaller searchable indices, such as the site compiled by the academic computing department at the University of Illinois.
A useful source of information on lists, including links to searchable indices, basic list command, and guides for searching, is found at the Columbia University site.
When you find a reference to a group that interests you, the website may support subscription directly from that page; otherwise you will have to carefully note the address and the directions for subscribing. Usually the request is sent to an automated server, not to the human being who is the "list owner." Because machines are unforgiving, the request must follow a specific format. Usually, for a LISTSERV, the address is to the computer server:
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Usually the subject line is left blank. In the message area, enter exactly what the instructions told you. Usually it will be something like:
SUBSCRIBE NITPICK-L John Doe
JOIN NITPICK-L John Doe
That's all you write. Your e-mail program attaches the e-mail address which the server uses to add your name to the list of the subscribers. Follow instructions exactly; remember that this is a computer, so don't send more than the directions specify.
When you subscribe, most lists send you a confirmation along with directions for using the list.
Save the directions. If you're running low on disk space, print out the instructions and put them where you can find them later. Commands to get off the list, to stop messages while you are on vacation, to access the list's archives or to deliver the mail in a digest version are all sent to the machine, not a person, so you need to follow the directions exactly. Few messages are as frequent or as pitiful as the "How do I get off this list" sent to thousands of subscribers — usually proof that you never kept the instructions.
Just in case:
SIGNOFF NITPICK-L
Some lists are moderated, meaning that access is restricted or messages are screened. Most lists, however, are open; the list owner intervenes only if a discussion (called a thread) gets way off-topic or inappropriate or if problems arise.
Check out our section on Netiquette and remember to lurk (read messages without announcing your presence) for a while before jumping into the fray, so that you can get an idea of the interests and the tone of the list.
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There are also lists similar to listservs:
- Majordomo
- GNU Mailman
