TiME Content and Procedures

Randy K. Schwartz (rschwart@SCPO2.LV.SCHOOLCRAFT.CC.MI.US)
Wed, 20 Nov 1996 18:40:00 -0500

I have some suggestions regarding the TiME list.
Since joining the list last June, I have noticed a great deal of
confusion among its participants (particularly the newer ones) concerning the
proper content and procedures for this list. Much of the discussion in TiME
lately has concerned such extraneous matters as credit-hour policies,
roommate arrangements at conferences, and even personal gossip. Desperate
queries are also frequently broadcast asking how to unsubscribe from the list.
Looking back at the orientation message that I was sent upon joining
TiME (and I attach the message for your reference below), I find that much of
the confusion could potentially be averted by providing more information in
the orientation.
Specifically, shouldn t the orientation message also include:
* a brief definition of what sorts of discussion are or are not
appropriate for this list
* some information about who the list master is, and to what
extent and in what manner the discussion is moderated by him or her
* an indication of how to contact the list master , so that
questions about the list itself need not be broadcast to all persons on the
list
* a statement urging the participant to be sure to save the
orientation message itself for future reference
* most basic of all: to what address one sends mail in order to
contribute to the discussion. (This address is hidden in the orientation
message below. That is, it is mentioned in passing, but not clearly
highlighted.)
Is it feasible to provide such information in the orientation message?

***********************************************************************
Randy K. Schwartz, Chairman voice 313/462-4400 extn. 5290
Department of Mathematics fax 313/462-4558
Liberal Arts Building email rschwart@schoolcraft.cc.mi.us
Schoolcraft College
18600 Haggerty Road
Livonia, MI 48152-2696
USA
***********************************************************************

This is the orientation message that I was sent:

Date:Wed, 5 Jun 1996 03:15:36 -0400
From: BITNET list server at MCGILL1 (1.7f) <LISTSERV@VM1.MCGILL.CA>
Subject: Your subscription to list MATHEDCC
To: Randy Schwartz <rschwart@scpo2.lv.schoolcraft.cc.mi.us>
Reply-To: MATHEDCC-Request@VM1.MCGILL.CA
X-LSV-ListID: MATHEDCC
Message-Id: <96Jun5.021423edt.36865@firewall.schoolcraft.cc.mi.us>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear networker,

Your subscription to list MATHEDCC (The Technology in Mathematics
Education
(TiME) committee of) has been accepted.

Note: your distribution options have been defaulted as per the "SET
MATHEDCC
REPRO NOACK" command.

You may leave the list at any time by sending a "SIGNOFF MATHEDCC" command
to
LISTSERV@MCGILL1.BITNET (or LISTSERV@VM1.MCGILL.CA). Please note that
this
command must NOT be sent to the list address (MATHEDCC@MCGILL1) but to
the
LISTSERV address (LISTSERV@MCGILL1).

The amount of acknowledgement you wish to receive from this list
upon
completion of a mailing operation can be changed by means of a "SET
MATHEDCC
option" command, where "option" may be either "ACK" (mail
acknowledgement),
"MSGACK" (interactive messages only) or "NOACK".

Please note that it is presently possible for other people to determine
that
you are signed up to the list through the use of the "REVIEW" command,
which
returns the network address and name of all the subscribers. If you do not
wish
your name to be available to others in this fashion, just issue a "SET
MATHEDCC
CONCEAL" command.

More information on LISTSERV commands can be found in the LISTSERV
reference
card, which you can retrieve by sending an "INFO REFCARD" command
to
LISTSERV@MCGILL1.BITNET (or LISTSERV@VM1.MCGILL.CA).

Virtually,

The LISTSERV management