Thank you; I have received two requests for this message in response to an offer to cross-post it here. Here it is, without modification or reformatting, except for the removal of a VCard attachment. -- Michael [log in to unmask] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 11:55:15 -0800 From: Eric Leach <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Mail Lists on RemarQ Hello. As you already know, we have incorporated support for mail lists through our web site at http://www.remarq.com/ . Up until now we have been addressing the concerns of list owners on an as needed basis. We would like to address list owner's concerns in a centralized forum, so I am posting this here. This message covers the functionality of mail lists on RemarQ in 4 sections: 1) Background on RemarQ and our current approach to Usenet newsgroups and custom groups, 2) Approach to public mail lists, 3) Benefits to users and 4) Contacting us. 1) RemarQ currently provides Internet discussion services (Usenet newsgroups and custom message boards) via the RemarQ web site and co-branded partner web sites. Currently people can use our web interface to search or browse a directory of message boards to find a group they are interested in and read the discussions in that group. To participate in the group (post a message) they must register with a valid email address. RemarQ confirms users' email addresses before allowing them to post messages. 2) We support public mail lists in a similar way, but with several key changes. A) Mail lists have been added to our searchable index and our directory, so people are able to find them in the same way they find Usenet newsgroups or custom groups. We obtained our “list of lists” exclusively from Stephanie daSilva's Publicly Accessible Mailing Lists. If your list is not on PAML and you would like to have us include your list please email [log in to unmask] You can visit our mail list suggestion page http://www.remarq.com/suggestmailinglist.q and enter your mail list information directly into our form to suggest a new list or update an existing list. If your list is on PAML and you do not want us to include your list please send email to [log in to unmask] B) Mail lists are designated as "subscription required" and RemarQ performs only the client end function of a mail list, leaving the subscription approval process in the hands of the list owner. To access a mail list users have to subscribe to the list. Only registered users with valid email addresses are able to subscribe to a list. RemarQ simplifies the subscription process by creating a unique email address for the user and then sending a subscribe email to the list on their behalf. The user cannot view list content until we receive confirmation from the list owner that the user is successfully subscribed. C) RemarQ does not archive mail lists. Once a user is successfully subscribed, they are able to read discussions from the date of their subscription approval. If the user is unsubscribed from the list they are not allowed to see any messages in the list from that point forward. RemarQ simplifies unsubscribing for users by placing an "unsubscribe" button in the user interface. E) Users who are subscribed to a list can post messages to that list via RemarQ. RemarQ will send messages to the list on the user's behalf. The user's email address will appear with their messages, so they have an identity in the list and so people can respond directly to them. F) RemarQ does not publish the member list of any mail list. Based on the response of list owners, clicking the member tab in mail lists now surfaces a confidentiality message. Email addresses of list members appear only if a subscribed member of a list clicks the sender’s name in the header of a message. This functions exactly as if the user had subscribed through a mail client. 3) We believe that making it possible to read and participate in email lists via the RemarQ interface has 4 main user benefits: + Makes it easier for you to subscribe and unsubscribe to a mailing list + Keeps your email inbox from being overwhelmed with mail list messages + Allows you to better manage your list participation using RemarQ features like discussion threading, watched discussions, ignored discussions, and searching within a group. + Helps promote access to mail lists 4) In implementing support for mail lists we have consulted with Alan Schwartz (author of Mailing Lists published by O'Reilly) and Stephanie da Silva (owner of PAML). Our intention is to create a community that is both convenient for users and respectful of list owners. Consequently, we are always looking for feedback from list members and owners alike. Please send us any suggestions that might help us improve our service to the mail list community to mail [log in to unmask] Thank you, Barry Saik, Director of Product Management Eric Leach, Content Programming and Web Support