The list owner/manager of one of the lists I subscribe to sent out
the following posting about an hour ago.  As a list owner myself,
I was really taken-back by a fellow list owner's request for
donations from subscribers. Forgetting for a moment whether what the
individual concerned did was moral, is the following request legal?
The list concerned is at a Canadian university. Are people with
academic accounts in Canada under the same restrictions we in the
USA are?  Even though the party does not _demand_ contributions,
I view the posting as using an academic account (the person's) and
the listserv list itself for commercial purposes. What do other
list owners think--or know?
 
I sent e-mail to the list owner who made the posting expressing my
concerns but have received no reply.  Subscribers cannot post
directly to the list so there is no way for me to make a posting
asking fellow subscribers not to send money if indeed what the
list owner requested is illegal--the person would have to make
another posting asking people not to send money.
 
Marilyn H. Fetterman, List Owner AFRICA-L
[log in to unmask]
------------Original Posting; <area deleted by me>-------------------
(List Owner & Editor <person's name> speaks).
 
As a subscriber of <list name>, you probably realise that it takes quite
a bit of time and effort to run this mailing list. It isn't perfect,
but it does inform (I hope!).
 
As a student, I am not rolling in the dough (and Canadian dough is
depreciating fast, but I digress). As such, I would like to suggest
that anyone who feels up to it MAY donate money towards running the
<list name> mailing list.
 
Naturally, the mailing list is FREE, and all donations are purely
voluntary.
 
If interested, please send cheque or money order to:
 
<name and home mailing address>