Mailing list ‘uspluimbal’ https://sympa.sun.ac.za/wws/info/uspluimbal

What is a mailing list?

A mailing list is a distribution list allowing a group of subscribers to automatically receive by email all messages sent to the list: every message sent to the list by a subscriber is received by all the other subscribers. When subscribed to a mailing list, it is possible to send messages, to reply to them or to read them without contributing (i.e. to "lurk").

In a moderated discussion list, messages are transmitted to all subscribers after approval by one of the list moderators. Moderation is a token of quality for the list. For example, it ensures that subscribers will not receive off-topic messages, unsolicited commercial messages (spams), messages containing large attachments, etc.

Features

Once subscribed to a mailing list service, you can:

• manage your subscriptions:
• subscribe to lists,
• unsubscribe from lists to which you are subscribed,
• change your subscriber options list by list,
• change your general preferences, which apply to the whole mailing list environment (name, password, language of the mailing list web interface, etc.);
• use mailing lists:
• read the online message archive of lists to which you are not subscribed if that archive is public and if your personal rights allow you to access those lists,
• read the archive of lists to which you are subscribed,
• perform searches in the list archive,
• send messages to lists to which you are subscribed,
• download documents from the shared document web space,
• upload documents in the shared document web space;

Subscribing to mailing lists (nameofthelist = uspluimbal)

Subscribing to a mailing list is very simple:

1. Choose the address with which you want to subscribe to the list.

2. Send a message to sympa@sympa.sun.ac.za from the address you want to subscribe to the list.

3. In the subject line of your message, type in: subscribe uspluimbal Firstname Surname (replace ‘Firstname’ and ‘Surname’ with your own name and surname).

4. Leave the message body blank.

After this, you will receive a message telling you whether your request was accepted or not: if the subscription to the list is subject to any approval, the list owner may choose not to subscribe you. If so, do not send several other requests: it is useless as the result will remain the same. You can possibly send a message directly to the list owner (nameofthelist-request@sympa.sun.ac.za) to explain why you really want to subscribe to the list...

Note: you will sometimes be asked to confirm your subscription request before it can be processed. If so, please conform to the instructions contained in the message you receive.

According to the type of list (list with subscription subject to conditions or not) and to the availability of the list owner, you may not receive the notice immediately. It is useless to send several requests.

If your request is accepted, the message you receive confirms your subscription to the list. This message (the list Charter) contains several pieces of essential information:

• your list password. This password is the same for all the lists you subscribed to with a single email address. You can change it online after logging on to the mailing list environment;
• detailed information about the list: its purpose, the Internet address at which the message archive is available, etc.
• the rules applying to the list and its members: allowed and forbidden topics, netiquette, legal information, privacy policy, etc.

You should keep your subscription notice: you may need it later to remember your password or to send a precise command to Sympa (example: signoff command). More generally, we advise you to keep all your subscription notices to mailing lists.

You can also subscribe to a list through the mailing list web interface. To do that, do as follows:

1. Go to the information page of the list you want to subscribe to.
2. In the left menu, click on the 'Subscribe' link.
3. Enter your e-mail address and click the ‘submit’ button.
4. Confirm your subscription request (provide the password e-mailed to you).

Where to get more information about mailing lists:

· a general introduction to mailing lists

· a user guide about the use of Sympa

· list of all available features in the mailing list management software

· users FAQ

· good practices for subscribers