Hi Ben,
We're experiencing this problem now also (even after I sent a polite email
message to all our AOL subscribers). I'd like to try your solution,
however, were using LISTSERV Lite and the Mail-Merge= feature is not
available. Is there another work around?
Thanks,
Mike Clark
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 23:11:20 -0700, Ben Parker <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
>On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 23:33:40 -0600, Michelle Wilbers
<[log in to unmask]>
>wrote:
>
>>"Script all messages to AOL list members with a unique identifier to be
able
>>to identify who
>>is reporting the spam. This identifier needs to be inserted into the
header
>>in such a way as it is not stripped by their TOS Client reporting stuff."
>
>I use the capabilities of LISTSERV and LSMTP's mail-merge to do this, and I
>don't put the information into the message headers because this is only
>possible for one-way, announce-only lists where you control all messages.
>This is not possible with discussion lists. Note that use of LSMTP is
>REQUIRED to accomplish this with LISTSERV.
>
>Add this line to the list header of all affected lists
>
> Mail-merge= Yes
>
>Then I use this as the bottom_banner on all list messages:
>
>--- cut here ---
>.ce ========================================
>.fo off
>Attn: &*TO;
>If you have changed your mind and you no longer want to receive this email,
>please follow these UNSUBSCRIBE instructions:
>
>To unsubscribe: send email to
> &LISTNAME-SIGNOFF-REQUEST@&MYHOST
>or click here:
> &WA_URL?SUBED1=&LISTNAME&&A=1&&s=&*TO;
>--- cut here ---
>
>This produces a personalized banner at the bottom of each email message
like
>this:
>
> ========================================
>Attn: [log in to unmask]
>If you have changed your mind and you no longer want to receive this email,
>please follow these UNSUBSCRIBE instructions:
>
>To unsubscribe: send email to
> [log in to unmask]
>or click here:
>
>http://listserv.besteffort.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=DPRV-
L&A=1&[log in to unmask]
>
>This bottom banner, being part of the message, is not affected by AOL and
>comes through intact in the feedback complaints. Upon receiving such a
>complaint response from AOL I immediately delete the user from all lists
on my
>server and issue a SERVE OFF DROP command for their address so they can
never
>attempt to resubscribe. (The SERVE OFF command requires Site Admin
>privileges.)
>
>I also use
>
> Subscription= by_owner,confirm
>
>for all lists. The following language appears in the 'Questionnaire' sent
to
>all prospective subscribers (which they are required to "sign" and send
back
>in order to subscribe).
>
>-------
>You have voluntarily asked to subscribe to this list. That implies you
>understand the kind of email messages posted on this list, and that you
>positively confirm that you desire and want to receive such messages.
>
>In the future, you may change your mind and no longer want to receive such
>messages. However, because you REQUESTED to receive messages from this
list
>originally, you MUST acknowledge and agree that you have an OBLIGATION TO
>UNSUBSCRIBE from this list rather than report the list emails as 'spam'
>(mail you don't want to receive). If you do not accept this OBLIGATION,
>then please do not confirm this message and please do not complete the
>subscription process.
>
>When you falsely report this list's email as 'spam' it causes business
>disruption to the server site hosting this list as a _free_ service to
>your community. Further disruptions from such false 'spam' reports may
>result in termination of this list for ALL participants.
>
>Please learn the difference between the 'delete' button and the
>'report-as-spam' button in your email client program. Remember the
>OBLIGATION you accepted by subscribing here in the first place. If
>you share your email account with others, be certain they clearly
>understand not to 'report-as-spam' the list email by mistake!
>
>--------------
>This has raised a number of eyebrows and some people think it is
unecessarily
>draconian. I have no patience for such people and wish them well
subscribing
>to lists on some other service. I have discovered painfully that as few
as 2
>complaints by AOL users in 1 month may cause AOL to block mail from my
server.
>This is unacceptable to me. Other sites may/should adopt practices
suitable
>to their situation which may well be different.
>
>The second time this blocking by AOL happened, I wrote to all 3,000 or so
>subscribers on all of my lists (in a personalized mail-merge message) and
>explained that if it happened a 3rd time, I would simply close the server
and
>remove all lists. Admittedly, I run lists for free to members of local
>volunteer organizations, so I don't have paying customers to contend with.
>
>Nevertheless, I believe that List Subscribers who truly have opted-in, also
>have an obligation to opt-out (unsubscribe) when they change their mind
about
>wanting that list's mail. I make sure they understand and agree to that
>obligation before they are allowed to subscribe to any of the lists I host.
>
>Your 'mileage' may vary... :-)
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