A Sample List FAQ (Informational Message about the List)

Every list needs an information file, or FAQ, or welcome message, or something that explains to subscribers how it all works

LISTSERV lets you create a welcome message (which is stent to new subscribers) and a farewell message (which is sent to people when they sign off) for your list. ListProc lets you store a welcome message and an info message (which is sent in reply to the "info listname" command). Majordomo provides for an intro (welcome) file and an info file. Lyris provides for a hello (welcome) message and a respond (info) file, as well as other files. Most web-based mailing list sites let you create a welcome or info message for your list.

Tip: The welcome file can be the same as the info file, with the addition of a cheery sentence of welcome.

Here is a sample info file for a discussion mailing list. You may lift material from this web page for the info and welcome messages of your lists, as long as you credit "Margaret Levine Young, at http://lists.gurus.com" somewhere in the file. Replace subject with the subject of your list, listname with the exact name of your list, administrative address with the administrative address (usually the list server name, @, and host computer name, like ListProc@gurus.com), and list address (usually the list name, @, and host computer name, like chickens-L@gurus.com). If your listname ends with "-l" it's a good idea to capitalize the "L", so that people don't think it's a one. You'll need to adjust the instructions to fit your list server or mailing list web site system, too.

Beginning of Sample Info File

***** The listname Mailing List *****

The listname mailing list is intended for discussing subject. This file contains instructions and rules for participating.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

To subscribe to this list, send a message to administrative address with the following line in the text (not the subject) of the message:

subscribe listname yourname

Replace "yourname" with your actual first and last names (not your e-mail address, which the mialnig list system can find in your message headers). Don't include any other text. If you can suppress including a signature in the message, do so. If your name is long or contains punctuation, enclose your whole name in quotes.

When our mailing list system receives your message, it will send a confusing confirmation message back to you. Click Reply to compose a reply, then click Send to send the reply without editing it. This reply confirms that you actually want to subscribe to the message, and that some malicious third-party isn't subscribing you against your will.

HOW TO SIGN OFF

To sign off of this list, send a message to administrative address with the following line in the text (not the subject) of the message:

signoff listname

HOW TO RECEIVE DIGESTS OR INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES

To receive digests of messages (the entire day's message in one long message), send this command to administrative address:

set listname mail digest

To receive individual messages, send this command:

set listname mail ack

HOW TO CONTACT THE LIST MANAGERS

If you have a problem or question about this list or about your subscription, write to the managers at listname-request@hostname. Don't post a message to the list.

HOW TO POST

To post a message to the list, so all the subscribers see it, address your message to listname@hostname. Turn off formatting (HTML or MIME), and don't attach any files to your message. Messages should consist of plain text only.

WHAT TO POST

If you wrote it and it is of general interest to people who are interested in subject, post it. Here are some sample topics: ...

WHAT NOT TO POST

If your message doesn't clearly and directly relate to subject, don't post it.

Don't continue an irrelevant thread in any way (rebuttal, rebuke, rerun, revision, remark). Don't post "me, too!" or "I don't know!" messages.

Don't post personal messages to a single subscriber. If mail to a person bounces, write to the list manager to get help contacting that person, but don't post to the list.

Don't post personal attacks. Make negative remarks about what people said (if you must), but not about people themselves. Do not point out grammatical, spelling, or usage errors.

If something cute, interesting, or funny is making the rounds (Microsoft or Disney paying for your e-mail, press release about Microsoft God, the origin of spam, etc.), don't post it.

If you are wondering whether your e-mail works, don't use the list to test it. Instead, send a message to test@gurus.com. A mailbot will reply, usually within a few minutes.

Here are some topics to avoid: ...

OTHER LIST RULES

Check your facts on anything you post. Do not under any circumstances post virus warnings, chain letters, news alerts, or anything else designed to be "forwarded to everyone you know" to this list. Never post hearsay without checking the fact yourself (searching the Web to confirm the information usually takes only a few minutes).

Direct all comments or suggestions about the list or this message to the list manager at listname-request@hostname.

End of Sample Info File

Copyright 1999-2000 Margaret Levine Young, one of the Internet Gurus.
To test your e-mail, write to test@gurus.com. For questions or comments about this site, write to listgurus@gurus.com.
http://lists.gurus.com/listfaq.html page last changed on January 12, 2000.