Discussion Lists
Email lists - how they workThe following information is adapted from the Cochrane Collaboration's useful information on email lists.Email lists are automated systems which make for efficient sharing of information among people with a common interest. They run on 'listserver' or 'list processor' software, usually on large computers. A single listserver system may serve many different lists.
Each email list has two email addresses: The system address: the address to which you send commands to interact with the system (eg, to subscribe to a list, to leave a list, to get information about a list) The list address: the address to which you send items intended for distribution to the other subscribers.
It is important that you select the correct address for your purpose.
When you first subscribe, your email is handled automatically by the list server system. It looks for the 'subscribe' (or 'join') command and the name of the list you wish to join. It extracts your email address and your name. It adds these to the list of subscribers and sends an email to you to confirm your subscription.
Most listserver systems will respond to a range of commands which allow you to:
set whether you are sent a copy of items which you send to the list. set whether you want all the items from the list each day packaged into a single email (the 'digest' option).
tell the system of a change of email address.
get a listing of all the other subscribers to a list.
tell the system to (temporarily) not send you any items (eg, before you go overseas for 3 months).
To find out what commands a system can handle, send an email to the system address with the word 'help' as the body of the message. The system will send back a list of commands and how to use them.
Guidelines
When replying to an item from the list, choose whether it is more appropriate to reply only to the original sender or to the whole list.
When replying to the list, make the context of your reply clear by including relevant sections of the original message.
Keep your language clear and simple - email lists are international and English is not the first language of all subscribers.
Be friendly, patient and positive. Those struggling to master email, and new subscribers to the list, will appreciate the friendly help of the more experienced. Take advantage of the list to build good working relationships.
If your email address is out of action for some reason and mail from the listserver cannot be delivered, some systems will automatically cancel your subscription. If you suspect this has happened, subscribe again. The system will tell you if you are already on the subscriber list.
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