Understanding Mail List 'Flow'

Terms

1. MajorDomo - a computer program that 'serves' e-mail messages. MajorDomo only responds to 'commands'. Messages intended for list distribution are sent to a LIST.
2. Command - instructions that you send to the program 'MajorDomo'.
3. Request - commands (terms that MajorDomo understands) that you send to the program.
4. LIST - Mail List, Mailing List, ML - a (usually) topic oriented collection of e-mail addresses whose owners wish to share information electronically. After successful enrollment in a list, member post messages to the list e-mail address and MajorDomo, ever watchful, propells the message out to all of the list members.

Sample MajorDomo Commands

The Process (message flow)

Messages sent to MajorDomo

1. YOU send a message to MajorDomo with your request.
2. MajorDomo interprets your request and responds (depending on what you send) with:
   a. MajorDomo understands - the request is aknowledged with the desired information/result
   b. MajorDomo does not understands and sends you 'help' in an effort to resolve the request.

Subscription Process

1. YOU send a request to MajorDomo asking to be added to the list.
2. MajorDomo responds by acknowledging your request AND
3. MajorDomo asks that you 'authorize' the request by responding to a 'Request for Confirmation' message.
4. YOU REPLY by sending the 'authorization' back to MajorDomo (in the correct form.)
5. MajorDomo sends you the 'Welcome to the List' message when your confirmation is received.
6. YOU begin posting messages to the LIST (not to MajorDomo - you only send commands to MajorDomo.)

Messages sent to a Mailing List

1. A list member sends a message to the LIST (not to MajorDomo.)
2. MajorDomo watches for mail sent to the LIST and re-distributes the message to everyone on the list.

Q & A

Q1. Why do I have to 'authorize' subscriptions to lists?
A1. It is conceivable that someone other than yourself could add your e-mail address to countless unwanted mail lists. As a matter of policy, Ga-USA.Net does not want to send unwanted messages to anyone. Your authorization confirms that you do, indeed wish to receive messages being transferred through the list.

Q2. Why not just put this on a Web bulletin board?
A2. E-mail is (almost) universal, while Web access is not. Also, a mail list provides a means to isolate the discussion and participants from the 'goings on' elsewhere on the Internet (i.e. newsgroups.) While not a guarantee, the list environment tends to make for a closer-knit form of interaction than the general free-for-all of the Internet. USENET and public web pages attract the attention of e-mail 'address hounds' that collect e-mail addresses and then provide their owners with a means to bombard you with endless drivel. While not foolproof, mail lists from this site will not sell or provide your e-mail address to anyone (not even to list members); your presence is only made known to the general membership when you post to the list.

Q3. Why should I always use the 'end' command?
A3. When MajorDomo encounters the 'end' command it stops reading your message and begins carrying out your commands. Any lines after the 'end' command are ignored. If there is no 'end' command, then Majordomo will search through your entire message (including your 'signature') for commands - when it does not find any, it will advise you by sending you a message saying that it does not understand your message and then include a generous supply of 'helpful' text providing you with the general directions for its mail lists.

Q4. Why do messages with 'commands' bounce?
A4. A 'bounced' message is one that MajorDomo thinks meets one of the following conditions: a. message submitted by someone who is not a list member, b. a message containing a 'command string' (i.e. subscribe, unsubscribe, list, index, etc.) or c. a message that meets other special criteria established by the list maintainer/owner. The 'bounced' message is sent to the list administrator/owner for resolution.

Q5. How do I post a message with one of these 'commands' as part of normal correspondence?
A5. Use hyphens to break up the syllables in the commands (i.e. use 'sub-scribe' instead of 'subscribe'.)

This site continues to evolve - if you have a classical guitar web site then please consider linking to the home page for Savannah Classical Guitar, http://www.ga-usa.com/classical-guitar/.

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