Subscribe/Unsubscribe to DEOS-L

DEOS-L Special Features and Commands

The following commands add your name to or remove your name from DEOS-L. Use them when you change e-mail addresses. To subscribe, send the following message to the e-mail address listed above.

SUBSCRIBE DEOS-L Your Full Name

Alternatively, if you want to subscribe anonymously, send the following command. Your name will then be hidden automatically.

SUBSCRIBE DEOS-L Anonymous

You may unsubscribe from the list at any time by sending the message:

SIGNOFF DEOS-L

When you subscribe to a Listserv discussion list, the default is usually set to send each message as an individual piece of e-mail. Once you are initially subscribed, you have other choices. To change the delivery style, send the following message to the listserv address listed above.

SET DEOS-L DIGEST
SET DEOS-L NODIGEST

Setting DIGEST causes all mail to be collected into a single file called a Digest. It will be sent to you once a day or more often if there is a lot of traffic. Setting NODIGEST reverts to individual messages.

If you prefer to receive messages in MIME format, send the following message to the listserv machine listed at the beginning of this section. Currently, only Digests are affected by this choice. NOMIME indicates that you would rather not receive MIME headers.

SET DEOS-L MIME
SET DEOS-L NOMIME

You can have a file sent to you each day with a list of only the subjects of the messages posted that day. If you find a message you would like to read, you can request it through the ARCHIVES option (see next section). NOINDEX reverts to individual messages. INDEX is only available for lists that are archived—i.e., that have notebooks.

SET DEOS-L INDEX
SET DEOS-L NOINDEX

Contributions sent to this list are automatically archived. You can obtain a list of the available archive files by sending an “INDEX DEOS-L” message to the Listserv machine. These files can then be retrieved by means of a “GET DEOS-L filetype” command or by using the database search facilities of LISTSERV. Send an “INFO DATABASE” command to the Listserv for more information on the latter.

To suspend all listserv traffic until a specified date, send the NOMAIL message. You can resume listserv activity by sending a MAIL command. This is helpful for suspending mail while on vacation.

SET DEOS-L NOMAIL
SET DEOS-L MAIL

The following option directs the LISTSERV to add the name of the listserv in the “Subject:” field of every posting from the list:

SET DEOS-L SUBJECTHDR

With some mail programs, this option can make it much easier to sort messages received from the list: i.e., by using special filters to save all the messages from a particular list to a designated folder. Replies are handled automatically to avoid inserting multiple copies of the list name.

This option reproduces the sender’s message and sends a copy back to the sender just as other subscribers receive it from the list. This feature is helpful for reviewing your own postings.

SET DEOS-L REPRO

DEOS-L Posting Etiquette

Regarding matters of net etiquette, DEOS-L subscribers are advised to remember the following:

1. Send personal replies/notes to individual subscribers, not to the list. What is “personal” may be difficult to judge because some “personal” replies have public value in discussions of issues. If in doubt, post the message and the moderator will review it.

2. Avoid postings of the “me, too!” variety. You may want to include additional comments to an original posting which would further benefit the list subscribers.

3. Avoid repeated postings of the same message over a short period of time.

4. Avoid “flame throwing,” that is, insults directed at list subscribers. Even when debating issues, please be professional and restrain yourself from being too emotional.

5. Responses to postings should include some information about the issues to which you are responding. You may duplicate important portions of the original posting to which you are responding. However, try not to duplicate the entire original posting, especially if it is more than 10 lines long.

6. When you ask subscribers for information about a topic, please ask them to respond to you personally. You can always post a summary of what you have gathered to DEOS-L later.

7. Keep subscribers’ mailboxes in mind when you create a posting. Ask yourself: “Is this posting likely to interest DEOS-L subscribers?” Some DEOS-L subscribers pay for internet mail delivery by the message received.

8. DEOS-L distributes announcements of conferences and professional positions. However, it does not distribute other advertising unless it has educational implications and is related to distance education. At times, product ordering information or descriptions are embedded in legitimate postings. The DEOS-L editor will filter out postings or responses to postings that are designed merely to add free advertising to the DEOS-L distribution.