(...)
>What I  don't understand is,  how do you find  out what is  there without
>asking a question?
 
Questions can be asked of people/lists, or of computer databases.
Listserv provides facilities for retrieving such.
 
Rule 1 for List Owners: see if the question (and answer) has been asked
       before by searching / reading the notebook or FTP (if available)
       archives.
 
If you have never read the file LISTFAQ MEMO (available from a listserv
near you -- 128 lines), this is a must.
 
Corollary 1 for List Owners: become familiar with the Listserv Database
       Search facility (INFO DATABASE cmd).  A list called LDBASE-L
       exists (along with archives) that has a lot of tips and hints.
       Do an INDEX LDBASE-L to the listserv@ukanvm (@ukanvm.cc.ukans.edu)
 
Rule 2: find out where other FAQs are stored for various topics.  A good
       place to start is ~ftp pit-manager.mit.edu cd pub/usenet
 
/Pete Weiss -- co-owner LDBASE-L