What is an Electronic Mailing List?

An email list is a group of people who exchange email on a topic of common interest. This is available to anyone who has email. When you sign up for a mailing list, you receive any mail that is sent to the list (ANG-list in this case). Most people will respond to the list, although they can choose to reply directly to the sender of the message by private email. Sometimes someone will ask an off-topic question and ask for replies by email so as not to bore the whole list. Informally, think of it as an electronic stitch-in -- lots of interesting conversation.

Different lists have different rules. The rules for the ANG-list can be found at http://www.needlepoint.org/ListRules.php. All subscribers must read and understand the rules of the ANG-list before posting messages to the ANG-list.

Some lists are moderated -- this means that before a message can be posted to the list, a moderator (a human being) checks the message and makes sure it is appropriate. ANG-list is unmoderated -- this means that any list subscriber can post a message. However, the Postmaster is an active participant in the list who reads every posting. Posters of inappropriate messages will receive one warning and be unsubscribed after a second incident.

ANG has taken all reasonable precautions to prevent abuse of ANG-list. This will be a fun place to talk about needlepoint.

ANG-list is a mailing list. It is not a chat group, nor is it a bulletin board. This decision was made based on the services offered by the company that hosts ANG's Web site.

A chat group or chat room is a way for people to communicate with each other, using their computers, in real-time. Some ISPs provide chat software as part of their software you install on your computer. For other ISPs, you need to install extra software.

A bulletin board is a place where messages gets posted and stay there for a specified period of time. Other people come and read what's there and possibly post answers or messages on new topics. The usenet news groups are the largest group of electronic bulletin boards.

Remember, ANG-list is a mailing list. Messages to and from the list are sent and received like any other email message.