Date:          Mon, 8 Feb 1999 21:57:09 -0600
From:          Kenneth Sax <[log in to unmask]>

What I do, whenever someone sends an unsubscribe command to the list
instead of the listserv, is send them a private post that includes
directions on how THEY can unsubscribe (better to train them to do it
themselves than to do it for them, IMO), along with a brief description of
why they shouldn't send their request to the list (not just because it
doesn't work, but out of courtesy for other list members) and a
recommendation that they save the welcoming instructions whenever they
subscribe to a list in the future.

I'd be interested in hearing what other list owners do.

-----------------------------------------
generally pretty much the same thing...... advise them how to do it.... give
them the instructions and occassionally (when asked) give them instructions
on HOW TO FIND OUT how to unsubscribe for lists run under other software....

as always..... address the problem in such a way that they do not need to
contact you again with the same problem..... and along the lines of: document
every problem so you dont need to keep re-inventing the wheel everytime it
crops up.... why make work for yourself?

Totally irrelevant to this list but still on this subject........
I was a member of a number of other lists who often had bulk subscriptions made
to them by "unknown" parties.... these were very heavy traffic lists and the
people who were unwillingly or unwittingly subscribed had no idea how to get
off the list at all and often had their mail boxes full of stuff they didnt
want to know about ...... a lot of the replies they got back from an
unsubscription request or a request for info on how to unsubscribe ended up
just being an excuse for the replier to get a flame in on someone........ never
did see the point of doing that......

Debra
(still doing a little dance of joy...... heh..... the script works... )