Here is a generic bottom_banner boilerplate:
>>> BOTTOM_BANNER
-----------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent via the &LISTNAME mailing list. Need
help with &LISTNAME? e-mail &[log in to unmask]
For more info, e-mail [log in to unmask] info &LISTNAME
>>> <end>
When a user e-mails the listname-REQUEST address, the first
thing they get back is the appended message. Those who
aren't so frustrated, will read the response. Nevertheless,
the message that they sent to listname-REQUEST is sent to
the non-quiet owners who can then do what they will.
Usually *I* just do a DEL listname [log in to unmask]
-- co-owner: INFOSYS, TQM-L, CPARK-L, ERAPPA-L, JANITORS, LDBASE-L, et -L
URL:mailto:[log in to unmask] "I get paid by the millisecond"
Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]>
Received: from PSUVM.PSU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@PSUVM) by PSUVM.PSU.EDU
(LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 7830; Thu, 10 Oct 1996 14:05:46 -0400
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 14:05:46 -0400
From: "L-Soft list server at PSUVM (1.8b)" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Your message to [log in to unmask]
To: Pete Weiss <[log in to unmask]>
X-LSV-ListID: L-xxxxx
Thu, 10 Oct 1996 14:05:46
Your message to [log in to unmask] has been forwarded to the
"list owners" (the people who manage the L-xxxxx list). If you wanted to
reach a human being, you used the correct procedure and you can ignore
the remainder of this message. If you were trying to send a command for
the computer to execute, please read on.
The L-xxxxx list is managed by a LISTSERV server. LISTSERV commands
should always be sent to the "LISTSERV" address, ie
[log in to unmask] (or [log in to unmask]). LISTSERV never tries
to process messages sent to the L-xxxxx-Request address; it simply
forwards them to a human being, and acknowledges receipt with the present
message.
The "listname-Request" convention originated on the Internet a long time
ago. At the time, lists were always managed manually, and this address
was defined as an alias for the person(s) in charge of the mailing list.
You would write to the "listname-Request" address to ask for information
about the list, ask to be added to the list, make suggestions about the
contents and policy, etc. Because this address was always a human being,
people knew and expected to be talking to a human being, not to a
computer. Unfortunately, some recent list management packages screen
incoming messages to the "listname-Request" address and attempt to
determine whether they are requests to join or leave the list. They look
for words such as "subscribe", "add", "leave", "off", and so on. If they
decide your message is a request to join or leave the list, they update
the list automatically; otherwise, they forward the message to the list
owners. Naturally, this means that if you write to the list owners about
someone else's unsuccessful attempts to leave the list, you stand good
chances of being automatically removed from the list, whereas the list
owners will never receive your message. No one really benefits from this.
There is no reliable mechanism to contact a human being for assistance,
and you can never be sure whether your request will be interpreted as a
command or as a message to the list owners. This is why LISTSERV uses two
separate addresses, one for the people in charge of the list and one for
the computer that runs it. This way you always know what will happen,
especially if you are writing in a language other than English.
In any case, if your message was a LISTSERV command, you should now
resend it to [log in to unmask] (or [log in to unmask]). The list
owners know that you have received this message and may assume that you
will resend the command on your own. You will find instructions for the
most common administrative requests below.
*********************
* TO LEAVE THE LIST *
*********************
Write to [log in to unmask] (or [log in to unmask]) and, in the
text of your message (not the subject line), write: SIGNOFF L-xxxxx
********************
* TO JOIN THE LIST *
********************
Write to [log in to unmask] (or [log in to unmask]) and, in the
text of your message (not the subject line), write: SUBSCRIBE L-xxxxx
************************
* FOR MORE INFORMATION *
************************
Write to [log in to unmask] (or [log in to unmask]) and, in the
text of your message (not the subject line), write: "HELP" or "INFO"
(without the quotes). HELP will give you a short help message and INFO a
list of the documents you can order.
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