denverastro Frequently Asked Questions

[ list Rules ] [ Netiquette ] [ About denverastro ] [ Terminology ]

List Rules

JOIN the List Serv

Netiquette

  1. Issues considered controversial need to be handled with more tact, and care, to avoid misunderstandings. Write carefully, Read carefully.

  2. Think about the fact that you are sending e-mail to many people all at once, and would they really all want to read the note - still, if the note is on-topic, that is, in the realm of what the list is for, then it is acceptable.

  3. Remember that list servs may be dynamic - members may be subscribing new, or unsubscribing at any time. The easiest way is to be careful, or be informed by checking the eGroups.com website from time to time. If the list admin is not too busy, he will post a list of members names once or twice a month, depending upon the amount of activity for subscriptions/unsubscriptions.

  4. Send replies to the list if it continues the thread and is useful to everyone reading the messages, but send private replies to the author if the information would only benefit yourselves, for example, if someone asks for a phone number, it could be sent via private mail, but if you think it will prevent dozens of replies to the list, send it there so that everyone knows that you answered that request. Remember that replies automatically go back to the whole list - you have to change the "To:" field on your mailer to send privately to other than the whole list.

  5. Those posting are asked to use descriptive "subject" lines to save reader's time.

  6. If you remember to, when replying offline, remove the "[DAS]" from the subject line of or indicate at the top of your note that the reply is offline. This will alert the person that the message did not originate from the list. If they reply, it will go to you anyway, but it will be less confusing.

  7. Humor is pleasurable, as long as it is part of an on-topic message - it gives readers a chuckle. Avoid sending only a joke or a list of jokes.

  8. If you are going to cross-post from another list or private e-mail, make clear in the beginning of the note that this is what you are doing. If possible, add an introductory paragraph to that effect. This will alert recipients to what is happening.

  9. Web links are a great way of conveying information. They are low bandwidth, and optional reading on the part of recipients.

  10. For Sale/Wanted ads are acceptable as long as they are not repeated excessively, and relate to Astronomy or the DAS.

about denverastro

  1. What is denverastro?
    It is a free, web-based list serv that has been set up for the members of the Denver Astronomical Society to use for discussion of topics relating to Astronomy, or similarly appropriate subjects. We expect the members to use their own judgement.

  2. What is eGroups.com?
    A web-site providing free list servs in exchange for putting their advertising at the end of the e-mail originating from the list

  3. Will I get junk e-mail for using the list or registering at eGroups.com?
    I honestly can not make any promises, but I have been on another list from their site for over 6 months, and I have not ever received one junk e-mail that I can attribute to them. I can usually tell how someone got my e-mail address, and most of the time it is because I gave my address to some online business. Most of the businesses I do business with are reputable and do not sell my address. The majority of my junk e-mail comes from sites that gave me a "free" service, but required my e-mail address to register. I did so for the service. Again, I have received nothing from eGroups.com, except the mostly unobtrusive links at the end of messages from the list.

  4. Can people see my name or e-mail address if I use the list?
    Yes. It is exactly like e-mail in all respects. If you send an e-mail message to someone else, if your name is associated with the e-mail address, that information is no different from the list. On the members list section of the web site, the last character of your e-mail address (up to before the @ sign) is replaced with a '-' (hyphen). Technically speaking, this would prevent an unwanted person on the list from getting your e-mail address without your permission, since they would have to guess at your address, but you would also have to never send a post to the list to prevent this. eGroups.com may do this to prevent "web-bots" from getting your e-mail address this way, or it may be a lame legal defense that they can claim they never gave out your e-mail address from your registering with them, or maybe something else entirely different.

Terminology

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - typically a web page that may be read without having to post answers to the list serv. If you have a question you don't see answered here, ask me, and I'll reply or put here or both.
list serv
a mailing list utility, sort of like conference e-mail - everybody on the list can send to a single address and be assured that everybody on the list will receive the message - much easier, cleaner, and simpler than CC: (carbon copy) lists; also called a mailing list, but this has a special meaning in the context of the DAS
list admin
the person or group of persons assigned to keep the flow of the list moving smoothly, helps members with subscription changes, and with more control to keep the list within the defined bounds
post
the common nickname for sending an e-mail message to a list
cross-post
not an angry e-mail (see flame, below), rather someone posting to the list a message that was not previously seen on the list - these posts are rather notorious due to the confusion they tend to cause among members of the list
flame
Name-calling (including swear words directed at a person), impuning character, or just not using appropriate manners; can all be attributed to Flaming. Complaints should be directed to the denverastro list serv committee, Jack Eastman, Leroy Guatney, Patti Kurtz, or Greg Marino. The committee will decide what degree of response is needed.
reply offline
typically, most e-mail lists set the reply feature of e-mail, activated by your particular mail utility, to automatically send replies back to the list - if you want to send remarks to a poster's note, but not have it go back to the list, you need to change the "To:" field on your e-mail
bandwidth
this is typical slang for the number of messages coming through on a list
noise
this the level of less useful chatter on a list, the more useful being signal, a carry-over term from radio and electronics, i.e. "keep the signal above the noise level"
moderated
this is a function of many lists where the list admin approves, rejects, or edits the notes sent to the list - this keeps the list admin very busy on active lists and can stifle communication, spontaneity is better
throughput
the amount of things getting through to the list, like flow in a pipe
netiquette
the common courtesies of e-mail that take time to learn, and we don't always think about when we are learning to use e-mail, especially on list servs
thread
a series of messages and related replies along a common theme

Copyright © 2000, Leroy W.L. Guatney.
Last Update: 6 September 2000.

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