-----Original Message----- From: Tim Pierce <twp@rootsweb.com> To: listowners-announce@rootsweb.com <listowners-announce@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, December 14, 1998 8:16 AM Subject: RootsWeb Lists have been Closed >Hi, listowners -- > >This announcement is to let you know that we've just finished >"closing" all of the RootsWeb lists. This means that the list server >will only let you post to a mailing list if you subscribe to it. > >I'm sorry that this had to be done so hastily, but we didn't really >have any choice. The volume of spam that was being sent through our >lists had reached a phenomenal level, and I was spending most of my >time on that problem rather than improving the systems. Worse, some >users had begun to send spam complaints to sites that were completely >unrelated to RootsWeb, but could kill our network connection if they >received too many complaints. Closing the lists to subscribers became >a matter of self-preservation. > >However, in order to make it easier on you, we've changed things to >make it a little more obvious when someone who isn't a subscriber >posts to your list. The list server will add the words "{not a >subscriber}" to the Subject heading of their message, like this: > > Subject: {not a subscriber} Ancestors of John BROWN? > >When this happens, you can use the "bounce" or "redirect" features of >your e-mail program (if such things are available) to repost this >message to your list, and it should be approved for everyone to see. >Or you can write to the poster and invite them to subscribe. > >Important to remember: some folks will subscribe to a mailing list >with one e-mail address, and then try to post with another e-mail >address. They don't mean any harm by this. If you notice that >someone keeps trying to post to the list from an address that isn't >subscribed, and you *want* his posts to be approved, you can add his >address to the "accept list." To do this, follow the "Customize >Settings" link from the bottom of your listowner utility page, and >then choose the option to "Edit the Accept File." > >If you have any other questions about managing a closed list, please >feel free to subscribe to NEWBIE-LISTOWNER-L and ask away -- one of >our more seasoned listowners will be glad to answer your questions. > >-- >Regards, >Tim Pierce >RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative >system obfuscator and hack-of-all-trades > >