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FAQs FOR MAILING LISTS

Here are some FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions - that may help you understand how mailing lists work. If there are any other questions you may have that are not on the list, MAIL US. Go to MAILING LISTS for information on some of those available.

WHAT IS A MAILING LIST?
HOW IS THIS DONE?
CAN I E-MAIL ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE LIST?
CAN I KNOW WHO ELSE IS ON THE LIST?
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON A LIST?
CAN I LEARN HOW MANY ARE ON A LIST?
WHO DOES ONE FIND A LIST TO JOIN?
IS IT DIFFICULT TO JOIN A LIST?
WHAT IS A MODERATED LIST?
ISN'T A MODERATED LIST CENSORSHIP?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I JOIN A LIST?
DO THE OTHERS KNOW I'VE SUBSCRIBED?
I'VE JOINED THE LIST. NOW WHAT?
IF I POST TO THE LIST IS IT PRIVATE?
CAN I JOIN THE LIST ANONYMOUSLY?
IS IT DIFFICULT TO LEAVE A LIST?
WHAT IS A MESSAGE BOARD OR FORUM?
SOCIAL NETWORKS LIKE FACEBOOK OR TWITTER?
WHAT IS CHATTING?
WHAT IF I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?



WHAT IS A MAILING LIST? A Mailing List (or ListServ® or e-mail List or simply "List") is e-mail that is shared between subscribers to a List that is devoted to a particular topic or interest. It might be a group of professionals talking about technical matters or people talking about a hobby or a lifestyle or just people chatting about whatever they want to talk about. For those diagnosed with prostate cancer, that's the subject on their Lists.

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HOW IS THIS DONE?
When you sign up or subscribe to a list, you are given an e-mail address where you will post your mail. A message or posting to that address is distributed to all the other subscribers or members on the List. They will all see your message and you will get whatever anyone else sends to the List. Then if you want to reply or respond to it, you do it just like regular e-mail. You hit REPLY, or, on some lists REPLY TO ALL, and it will go back to everyone on the list. The software at the other end does the distribution for you. It is all automatic and very simple. If you wish to retain some privacy you can use a pseudonym. You may also wish to set up a separate e-mail address to use for this kind of site.

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CAN I E-MAIL ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE LIST? Just about every List will include the e-mail address of the sender. On some Lists you would have to manually delete the to-the-List address and insert the person's e-mail address if you want to send it just to them. Others give you the option. It depends on the List and the program you are running. Sending something to the entire List when you meant it as private is one of the harsh lessons of this technology. It has probably happened to everyone, so just check on the address shown in your mail before you hit "Send".

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CAN I KNOW WHO ELSE IS ON THE LIST? Sometimes. Some Lists might give you access to the subscriber list but most don't. It is up to the moderator or owner of the List. Otherwise, the only way to tell is to see who sends messages to the List.

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HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON A LIST? Some have only a few people, such as a few close friends who like to chitchat, or the List may have over a thousand subscribers. Some are "public," meaning that the List can be found via Web sites and people can join merely by sending a request that is handled by the computer. Other Lists are private and are known only to the subscribers, for example, a family with relatives around the world might all keep in touch through a Mailing List. Everyone gets the same news.

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CAN I LEARN HOW MANY ARE ON THE LIST? That is usually pretty easy. Some Web sites that list Lists will give the number of current subscribers. The ACOR LISTS are a good example - going there shows (at the time of writing November 2012) that there are 1,351 subscribers on the prostate cancer list but only 24 on the palliative care list. If this information is not available, you can always ask the owner of the List which will be shown on the site.

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HOW DOES ONE FIND A LIST TO JOIN? Some of the better known prostate cancer Lists are shown on the page on this page - MAILING LISTS There are "lists of Lists" or Web sites where one can look up a topic of interest and sign up right there - CATALIST is one well known one. Going to GOOGLE or other Search Engines and entering the words MAILING LIST and the subject you are interested is a simple way to go.

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IS IT DIFFICULT TO JOIN A LIST? Usually not, although there are some where members are vetted before joining. There are different methods of joining but most are pretty simple. Some have very specific instructions that you must try to follow very precisely as to where you send your message, what you put in the SUBJECT line or maybe in the TEXT/BODY to get them to work.

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WHAT IS A MODERATED LIST? This means there is someone who approves each message before it is forwarded to the list. This can sometimes slow down distribution because moderators don't always work 24/7/365. Some moderated lists will give you an automated response to tell you that your message has been received, which is a nice courtesy. In some cases moderation is in arrears. Messages are posted initially but deleted if they do not meet the rules of the List.

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ISN'T A MODERATED LIST CENSORSHIP? Some moderators merely watch that the post is relevant ("on topic") or not merely for advertising or if it is legally questionable, e.g., potentially libelous. Some moderators may kick you off the List if they don't like what you write. So, yes, there can be censorship. But some subscribers like it because it keeps the List focused. Others hate it and leave. Such is life with the Lists.

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I JOIN A LIST? Usually you will get a little "welcome" note that is generated by the software. It will tell you how to leave the List (unsubscribe) or maybe the List offers a digest where all of the day's messages are in one long e-mail (some people prefer that) and other features. From that point on, the List mail will start coming to your e-mail In Box. This welcome note will also tell you what the basic rules of the List are - if there are any restrictions, how the owner or moderator feels about off topic posts and so on. It is worth reading these as some owners are fierce about breaches. Keep this welcome note, because it will usually tell you how to leave the List if you want to at any time, or how to suspend your membership - going nomail - if you are away on vacation for example.

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DO THE OTHERS KNOW I'VE SUBSCRIBED? No, that is rare on Lists, although Forums will often show new members' names or pseudonyms. Usually only the owner/moderator knows, until you post. Until then, you are known as a "lurker," which is Net-slang for someone who reads but does not post.

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SO I'VE JOINED LIST. NOW WHAT? It is suggested that you spend awhile reading the e-mails to get an idea what is happening. You might also like to browse through the archive which most sites have to get an idea of what has been discussed recently. It is considered quite rude to join in an existing discussion or thread, as soon as you join. But it is okay to post something (if you want) that introduces yourself and why you've joined the List and to start posting questions, if you want some help. You may find that, if you do ask a question, you get answers from list members 'Off List'. This sometimes happens if you have asked a question that has been dealt with recently on the List. But don't let that put you off asking your question. And remember that the only dumb questions on prostate cancer lists if you are newly diagnosed are those not asked. Everyone had to go through a steep learning curve. Meanwhile, spend time reading and learning how the List works. Each is different and they go through phases. A List can go quiet for a week and then flare into activity, for example.

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IF I POST TO THE LIST, IS IT PRIVATE? By subscribing, you agree that your post can go to all the other members on the List, so it goes to all the members on the List and you can't control who is getting it or what they do with it. Most Lists try to prohibit the forwarding of posts from their Lists to other Lists, but it happens. Second, some Lists archive their messages and these can be found on the Web. So if you are concerned about privacy set up a separate mailing address with a different name, as suggested above.

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CAN I JOIN A LIST ANONYMOUSLY? Some accounts let you use a pseudonym or what is termed an avatar in Cyberspeak. If not, go get another account under another name with one of the free e-mail services. This is not illegal. It is done all the time by people who want anonymity. TIP: When you do it, send some e-mail to your regular account from the new account to see what it looks like, so you didn't make a mistake. If you did, maybe you can go back and change it. If not, go get another account and start over. The down side is that your mail is now in two locations unless you redirect it to your main mail server. It also helps with spam. List owners try to protect their members e-mail addresses but they are sometimes raided. If you start getting a deal of spam on your second address, you can simply register another and use that.

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IS IT DIFFICULT TO LEAVE A LIST? Not usually - and if you have set up a special e-mail address you can simply abandon the address. The the instructions that are sent you when you join will tell you what command to send to unsubscribe or to suspend delivery for a short period. This suspension is known as going NOMAIL It is handy to just create a folder called LISTS and toss the joining instructions as they come in. Even if you unsubscribe, they are handy to keep around in case you want to return.

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WHAT IS A MESSAGE BOARD OR FORUM? Messages are posted on the Board or Forum at a Web site where they can be read. They don't come to your mailbox, although in most cases you can mark a topic of interest and be told if anything is added to it. Otherwise, the protocols for joining, leaving and so on are similar.

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SOCIAL NETWORKS LIKE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER? There has been a phenomenal growth in these and other social networks. Most of the users of social networks are younger folk and there is a limit to the size of the message. In the case of Twitter there is a limit of 140 characters per message. Although FaceBook allows longer posts, in practical terms, most of the FaceBook sites are supportive rather than informative, as are other social networks. Care needs to be taken when first using this type of site to limit the amount of personal information shared.

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WHAT IS A CHATTING? This is when messages are keyed in and exchanged in real time. They can be one on one or in the environment known as a chat room when any number of people can join in. There will usually be many lurkers and these exchanges can be archived by anyone who is there. Chatting can take some experience and caution. Best to lurk for some time before getting in.

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WHAT WHAT IF I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?? You can post as many questions as you like on Forums or Mailing Lists. If you have a question that is not answered here, MAIL US.

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