Hi all,
I just wanted to take a moment to share my experiences as a
list-admin for another mailing list. The only reason I am doing
this, is to let everybody know that running a publicly accessible
mailing list is really a thankless job. And, unless you've been
"around the 'Net" a time or two you should probably resist the
urge to tell a list-admin how to do their job.
The Internet -- with it's mailing lists, IRC chat rooms,
USENET news groups among many communication vehicles -- is a wild
and untamed place. And, with mailing lists in particular, it has
become open to what I have come to call Verbal Terrorism.
Most of this mailing list probably wouldn't even consider
posting to this list under an assumed name and trying to cause
trouble. But, I can tell you from experience that it does hap-
pen. With all of the free e-mail services -- Yahoo, RocketMail,
HotMail, and the like -- it is all too easy to assume an identi-
ty, join a mailing list, and cause trouble without anybody being
able to know who you really are.
And, with these free, Web-based e-mail services, you can hide
your "tracks" too. There are several Web-services out there that
offer what is usually called a proxy-server. Normally, when you
send an e-mail from a non-Web-based service, it identifies the IP
address or domain name that you sent the mail from. A simple
note to that IP- or domain's administrator is usually all it
takes to stop some type of abuse. But, if you set your Web-
browser's proxy services, they guarantee that your "tracks" won't
be traceable.
As with my list-problems, somebody who didn't like the purpose
of my list simply signed up for a free e-mail account, signed up
to use a proxy server, and started sending harassing mail to the
list. I unsubscribed them, but they just assumed another identi-
ty with another e-mail service, and at times changed their proxy
service, and resubscribed to the list and continued with their
harassment.
There are really only three options: 1)take the list down
(which is what my problem-child was trying to do); 2) do whatever
you can to identify the perpetrator and "shine the light on them"
in public; or 3) turn the moderated option on. The moderated op-
tion forces the list-admin to approve a message before it is
posted to the list. IMO this is the worst thing to do and a
sure-fire way to get a mass-exodus from the list.
I don't know if I've been on the Parkinson's list for any type
of list-harassment -- I read the digest and try to scan the crud
while looking for topics of interest. But, I can say that what I
have read recently about a certain list problem, it looks like
our list-admin is doing one of the two things that I believe are
appropriate. But, if they are forced to turn the moderated op-
tion on ...
I know that I write way too much in replies I make to most any
list -- a problem with being an author, a tech-nerd, and a 'Net-
junkie I guess. But, this is really just my long-winded way of
saying that I think the list is doing fine. Sure, sometimes
there are little "blips" in the posting patterns on different
subjects and the like. But, all-in-all it looks, feels, smells,
tastes, and sounds just like almost every mailing list I've ever
been on.
So, list-admins, keep up the good work. I think you are doing
just fine. That's what I grok anyway ...
Bill--
...who thinks that every solution breeds new problems.
.___. William A. ....._..._ .......7177 Heritage Drive+- //\ -(42?)- /\\ +
| _ \__ _ _ _ _ _ ___| |_| |_ ___ .Westchester........| || * \ . . / * |||
| _/ _` | '_| '_/ -_) _| _/ -_).OH 45069-4012......| \\____\X/____// |
|_| \__,_|_| |_| \___|\__|\__\___|.513/779-0780.......| / * /O\ * \ |
..... http://w3.one.net/~wap/ .... [log in to unmask] .......+-- \__/ " \__/ -+
