Conchologists of America
CONCH-L FAQ

Version date: June 28, 1999

The CONCH-L FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) may not answer all the questions, but it is the place to start. Please send any comments or suggestions concerning this FAQ to: Amy Edwards amylyne@arches.uga.edu

[CONCH-L Introduction] [CONCH-L Guidelines] [CONCH-L FAQ] [CONCH-L Archive]

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Q. What is an UNMODERATED list?

A. CONCH-L is an unmoderated list. This means that no one will edit, review or stop your post before it is sent to all the subscribers of the list. So think twice before sending your post. Check to see that it does represent what you wanted to say and that you do want everyone on the list to see it.

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Q. How do I post to CONCH-L?

A. If you are subscribed to the list just email your message, question or comment to:

CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Your message will be automatically distributed to all users subscribed to the list. Remember to include a subject in the SUBJECT line.

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Q. How do I send my REPLY to CONCH-L?

A. The list defaults are set so that if you wish to reply to a question or comment previously posted you only need to REPLY. Your message will be sent back to CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU and posted to the whole list. If you do not want the whole list to see your responses do not use REPLY.

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Q. How do I send my REPLY to the person who posted the question, and not the whole list?

A. DO NOT use REPLY. Instead you should send your message to the original poster's email address. That email address will be listed on the 'FROM:' line.

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Q. What is NETIQUETTE?

A. This is another term for "network etiquette". It refers to what is considered appropriate manners on internet forums such as lists and news groups. Something that is easily forgotten is that a written message does not contain any of the facial or body mannerisms that would help the reader correctly interpret what you are saying. This can often lead to miscommunication. Something that was meant to be funny is not interpreted as being funny. For more information on network etiquette, please see Arlene Rinaldi's Netiquette Home Page, at:

http://www.fau.edu/rinaldi/netiquette.html
where there are English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese versions of the guide.

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Q. Does the list CONCH-L have any rules?

A.Yes, the list does have a set of rules that the subscribers are asked to follow. These rules can be found at: http:/www.arches.uga.edu/~amylyne/CONCH-L/CONCH-Lrules.html, and are emailed to all subscribers bi-annually. The four rules are:

  1. NO Commercial Advertising (Very Important!!!)
    CONCH-L was set up to provide a means for people have an interest in conchology/malacology to communicate with each other. It is not here to provide free advertising. Please do not post commercial advertisements to the list. For more on this topic please see the advertisement rules at: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~amylyne/CONCH-L/CONCH-Lrules.html#1
  2. NO Big Files and NO 'Attached' Files
    This rule especially applies to graphic files. The files are large and can cause transmission problems for the network as well as individual computers. Because of their size they also take a long time to download and may not be appreciated by the other members of the list who have to pay for their connection time and space. In addition, not everyone on the list will be able to read the graphic file. Please send this type of file directly to the person who requested it and not to the list.
  3. NO Off-Topic Postings
    The oldest and most revered rule on any list is to respect the announced subject and not to post anything off-topic. Observe your Netiquette and don't post non-conchology related items to the list.
  4. NO Flaming
    Besides being absolutely bad manners, flaming is really a cop-out. Shellers are noted for being Deep Thinkers, so think twice before posting an off color reply. Also remember the list subscribers are from many different countries and cultures, and those dumb little smileys are not too bad an idea after all.

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Q. How do I un-subscribe from the CONCH-L list?

A. You may leave the list at any time. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

SIGNOFF CONCH-L

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Q. How can I find out who is subscribed to the list?

A. You can retrieve a list of all the UNCONCEALED subscribers. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

REView CONCH-L NOHeader

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Q. I don't remember what my subscription settings are. How can I find out?

A. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

Query CONCH-L
The Listserv will send you back a list of your current subscription settings (below are the results of a query of a subscription which uses the default settings):
> Query CONCH-L
Subscription options for your name your e-mail address, list CONCH-L:
MAIL You are sent individual postings as they are received
SHORTHDR Short mail headers with only "human friendly" fields
REPRO You receive a copy of your own postings
NOACK No acknowledgement of successfully processed postings

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Q. I am going on vacation; how do I suspend my subscription?

A. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

SET CONCH-L NOMail
When you return, send another command to restore service:
SET CONCH-L Mail

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Q. I want to receive acknowledgments from the Listserv when I post a message to CONCH-L.

A. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

SET CONCH-L ACK
ACK means that you want to receive a mail message from LISTSERV indicating that your message was successfully distributed. The default setting for CONCH-L is NOACK.

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Q. I don't want to receive a copy of the messages I post to CONCH-L.

A. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

SET CONCH-L NOREPro
NOREPro means that mail which you send to a list will be distributed to all members of the list except you. The default setting for CONCH-L is REPro.

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Q. Can I receive CONCH-L posts in a digest?

A. Yes you can. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

SET CONCH-L DIGEST
Now you will receive the CONCH-L postings in a group instead of as individual messages. To change back to individual mailings, send the command NODIGEST. The default for CONCH-L is NODIGEST.

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Q. How do I conceal my subscription from other list subscribers?

A. Send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

SET CONCH-L CONCEAL
Now your name and e-mail address will not appear in the display of list members which is given in response to a REView command (except to list owners and Listserv administrators). The default for CONCH-L is NOCONCEAL.
*Please note your name and e-mail address WILL appear in any post you make to the group, so you will not be invisible if you post messages.

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Q. How can I find out more about changing my subscription options?

A. There are many ways to 'customize' your subscription to fit your needs. To learn more about this option send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the following commands on SEPARATE lines:

HELP
INFO REFCARD
The Listserv will send you two files which list and explain many of the Listserv commands and subscription options.

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Q. I received a message from the Listserv that said I have to confirm my subscription. What do I do?

A. Many mailing lists require subscription renewal at regular intervals (usually once a year). A mail message is automatically sent to all list members indicating that they must send a CONFIRM command within a given number of days or they will be removed from the list. This command must be sent from the same e-mail address that received the confirmation notice. Simply send a message to the LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not CONCH-L). In the body of the e-mail post send the command:

CONFIRM CONCH-L
The LISTSERV will send a message that your subscription has been confirmed.

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Q. Why do I have to confirm my subscription?

A. Requiring a confirmation on all new subscription requests, helps ensure the LISTSERV has a clear mailing path back to the subscriber (the subscriber is not located behind a "broken" or one-way gateway).

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Q. Why do/did I have trouble subscribing/un-subscribing?

A. Even though the subscription process is straightforward, it can be confusing and may not work for everyone. LISTSERV expects confirmation codes to be sent back in a very specific way (after all it is only a computer). Some mail gateways add lines to the header of out-going messages they transmit. LISTSERV doesn't understand these messages and will send back an error message. If a subscriber tries to FORWARD the confirmation request back to LISTSERV, or CREATES a new mail message to send the confirmation back, it usually will not work correctly. The subscription sequence should be as follows:

  1. SEND the subscription request to LISTSERV.
  2. REPLY to the confirmation request ('ok').
  3. SEND the confirmation code; ONLY if 'ok' didn't work ('ok ######').
  4. Send mail to the list owner (not to the list) if the subscription request fails after step 3.

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Q. Why am I not getting messages from the CONCH-L List?

A. The Listserv program has several automatic features designed to make maintaining a list easier. If the program has problems delivering the mail to your e-mail address one of two things can happen:

  1. Your subscription will be changed to 'NOMAIL'.
  2. Your subscription will be dropped.

First find out what your current subscription options are.

If your subscription has been changed to 'NOMAIL' you may change it back to 'MAIL'.

If you have been dropped form the list of subscribers you will have to re-subscribe to the list.

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Q. Why can't I post messages to the CONCH-L List?

A. In order to minimize the nuisance mail, posting to CONCH-L is restricted to subscribers (this means you must be a current subscriber to post a message). You will only be able to post messages to the list using the email address you subscribed with. If your address has changed you may still receive messages from the list because they are being forwarded from your old address (a courtesy many system administrators provide), however you will not be able to post to the list from your new address because it does not match the address you subscribed with.It this happens send a request to the list manager to change your subscription. Include both your old address and your new address.

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Q. Why do my messages get caught by the server instead of posted to the CONCH-L List?

A. The Listserv program filters submissions before posting them to the CONCH-L List. This process is meant to catch spams and other problematic mail messages. One of the filters catches mail that has additional 'header' information ("TO:", "From:", "Sender:", or "Reply-To:") in text of the message (also called the body of the message). This filter is in place to stops circular messages, but it will also catch incorrectly written messages.

Additional header lines can be created when you use 'Redirect', 'Forward' or 'Reply' to a message. Some programs will include the original header information along with the text of the message in the body of your 'Redirect', 'Forward' or 'Reply. The program should comment out the old header lines (see the carrots in the headers below '>'), however some do not. If these duplicate header lines are not commented out by the program, you need to do it manually before sending the message to CONCH-L.

>Date: 17 Jan 1997 16:15:00
>Reply-To: Conchologists of America List 
>Sender: Conchologists of America List 
>From: "John Doe" 
>Subject: CONCH-L: error report from 
>To: "Conchologists of America List"

Messages caught by the Listserv program may be re-posted to the CONCH-L List by the List Manager.

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Q. How do you SUBSCRIBE to the CONCH-L list?

A. To subscribe to the CONCH-L list. Send a message to:

LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
In the body of the e-mail message send the command:
SUBSCRIBE CONCH-L your_real_name
*DO NOT include any other words, dashes, periods, commas, commands, or your signature with this command.

You will receive a message from the computer asking you to REPLY to confirm you wish to join the list group. This message will have a subject line that looks something like:

"Command confirmation request (661DD7)".
When you send a REPLY (not a new message) to the computer it will include this subject line, which refers to your original request (Re: Command confirmation request (661DD7))

In the BODY of your reply message send the command:

ok
*DO NOT include commas, dashes, periods, quotation marks, spaces, or your signature in this reply.

You will receive notification from the computer that you have been add to the list. You will also receive a copy of the list's WELCOME message. This message contains additional information about your subscription including: who to ask for help when you have a problem, where to look for information about the list, and how to use listserv commands to change your subscription. KEEP this message to refer back to.

* See Why do I have to confirm my subscription?
* See Why do/did I have trouble subscribing/un-subscribing? if you have trouble subscribing.

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CONCH-L is hosted by the University of Georgia and maintained by Amy Edwards. If you have any questions concerning the operation of this list please direct them to: Amy Edwards

[CONCH-L Introduction] [CONCH-L Guidelines] [CONCH-L FAQ] [CONCH-L Archive]