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A note from the list
manager...to keep in mind.
Frequently-asked
Mailing List questions:
- Is the list open?
- Is the list moderated?
- Why is a particular list not subscriber-only?
- If a list is subscriber-only,
and I'm on a sub-list, how can I post?
- How can I post to a subscriber-only
list from multiple email accounts without receiving multiple
list posts?
- What SPAM filters to you use?
- I got a "suspicious header"
message - what does that mean?
- Mail was 'held for because poster
is not a list member" on a subscriber-only
list; should I repost it?
- Why are posts using X-no-archive
held or bounced?
- My mail has been held for review;
how long does review take?
- Can I discuss these policies on the
mailing list?
- Do you particiapte in these discussions?
- Will you change these policies?
A note
from the list moderator.
Lists on postel.org are configured based on
thoughtful consideration of both the available resources and
benefit to list subscribers. In particular:
OPEN LISTS:
- Open lists encourage participation. Posting on these lists
is not contingent on list membership.
- Open lists permit "list subscription", i.e.,
the use of local exploder lists. This encourages local management
of list subscription, as well as relieving network resources.
SUBSCRIBER-ONLY LISTS:
- Subscriber-only lists require that posters subscribe to
the list before a post is accepted.
- Non-subscriber posts are "held for approval."
Because spam is equally "held for approval", nearly
all "held" messages are discarded. Click
here for more info.
ALL LISTS:
- All lists are configured upon thoughtful consideration
of both the available resources and list subscribers. While
list configuration can be discussed on the lists, it is
ultimately a matter of social engineering rather than democratic
rule.
- All lists use content-based automatic SPAM filters and
manual policy filters. SPAM filtering is performed primarily
to reduce network bandwidth; it is not a substitute for
receiver-side filters. Subscribers are encouraged to use
their own filters in addition to ours.
These policies are posted here to avoid redundent discussion
on the mailing list. As such, we will forward a pointer to
the FAQ when a relevant discussion begins.
Is the
list open?
Anyone can join our lists, and anyone can post
to the lists. On open lists, this includes non-subscribers.
On subscriber-only lists, subscription is required prior to
posting.
Is
the list moderated?
The list is only partly moderated. Regular posts
are not reviewed, and are posted automatically. Posts which
trigger our filters may be held for review.
Our filters are designed to enforce list policies.
E.g., on end2end-interest, CFPs must be approved in advance,
and job posts are prohibited. Such posts are held for review.
All other posts are forwarded to the list.
Why
is a particular list not subscriber-only?
Some lists on this server are configured to
encourage open dialogue, and to encourage the efficiency of
local lists. These lists are configured to avoid inconvenience
to subscribers who might post from one of many accounts, or
who are members of local exploder lists. The configuration
also encourage non-members to participate, even for brief
discussions or individual posts.
If
a list is subscriber-only, and I'm on a sub-list,
how can I post?
Join the list, and request the "no mail"
option.
How
can I post to a subscriber-only list from multiple
email accounts without receiving multiple list posts?
Join the list for each email you use as a source
address, and request the "no mail" option for each.
What
SPAM filters do you use?
We use two kinds of SPAM filters:
- Content-based automatic SPAM filters
- Static manual filters to enforce list policy
We do not use subscriber-list (white-list) filters,
since they would increase the hurdle to casual users, users
who post from multiple accounts, or users who subscribe via
exploder lists.
I
got a "suspicious header" message - what does that
mean?
"Suspicious header" is what our mail
system forwards to you when your post is held due to our filters,
regardless of the specific issue. Our filters insert a "hold
for approval" header flag, and the mail system is configured
to consider that flag 'suspicious'.
It simply means your post has been held for
approval (if this is subscriber-only
list, you MUST repost). Mail is held
when it potentially conflicts with list policy. E.g., job
postings, book advertisements, and commercial conferences
are prohibited from most lists on this server. There are also
list-specific policies, e.g., end2end-interest
permits at most one call for papers and one call for participation
per pre-approved conference per year. Please see the list
pages for list-specific policies.
Please keep in mind that the hold filers are
designed to reduce false negatives (real violations that go
through), and so generate false positives. Receiving this
"suspicious header" message is not an indication
that the post conflicts with list policy, and when such posts
are reviewed a do not, they are forwarded to the list.
Mail
was 'held because poster is not a list member" on a subscriber-only
list; should I repost it?
If you have a post which is "held"
because you are not a subscriber, you must
REPOST after subscribing. If the post is still held for some
other reason (tripping a spam filter, or filters on the list
policy, e.g., CFPs), please FORWARD A COPY TO THE LIST ADMINISTRATOR
({listname}-admin@postel.org, e.g., end2end-interest-admin@postel.org).
Such forwards should NOT include attachments or be MIME-encoded.
Short, ASCII posts will be forwarded when time permits.
Mail
was held/rejected with x-no-archive?
If you have a post which is "held"
or rejected because you used "x-no-archive: yes",
it is because use of these lists is contingent on our software
archiving the posts. We do not permit posts which are not
archived.
My
mail has been held for review; how long does review take?
On open lists, posts held for review are forwarded
immediately upon review. Review can occur in a few minutes,
a few hours, or as many as 1-2 days. Each list currently has
only one reviewer, and so reviews are subject to business
hours, holidays, and network access variations.
On subscriber-only lists, posts held
for review are discarded, due to the large number of spam
messages which are held in the same queue. In this case, please
repost (click here for more info.).
Can
I discuss these policies on the mailing list?
Certainly, as long as the discussion is productive
and congenial (as with any discussion on the list). Please
include one of the following headers, so others can filter
such discussions out if desired:
- - for general list operation and configuration:
LIST CONFIG
- - for discussions about spam on the list:
LIST SPAM
Specific issues can be appended, e.g., "LIST
CONFIG - open or closed"
Such discussion is subject to the individual
list; e.g., discussions of spam on end2end-interest are no
longer welcome.
Do
you particiapte in these discussions?
Sometimes, notably when the issues on this
FAQ warrant clarification.
If you have a specific question that you want
answered by the list maintainer, please post to the list maintainer
directly (<listname>-owner).
Will
you change these policies?
Of course. The configuration of these lists,
and the policies by which they are operated, are always under
review.
Keep in mind, however:
- Many lists have several thousand subscribers. No single
configuration will satisfy all subscribers.
- List configuration is determined for the best interest
of the list, based on the list's purpose, and in discussion
with the list owner/originator (which may not be the list
maintainer).
- List configuration is determined by thoughtful consideration,
closer to a republic than a democracy, FWIW.
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