If you reply "on list" you are sending the e-mail to _ILFULTON-L@rootsweb.com_ (mailto:ILFULTON-L@rootsweb.com) . If you reply "off list" you send it directly to the e-mail address of the person to whom you wish to reply. If you want to exchange personal info such as phone numbers, addresses, etc., you reply directly to the person to whom you wish to give this personal info, not to the list where it goes out to everyone. Most info can be shared "on list" because you never know when someone on the list will recognize something in your response. Then you have helped someone on the list or found someone else with whom to exchange info. Hope that explains it for you. I remember being new to the list myself. Very daunting at first. Carol