While conferencing on the Web is clumsy and difficult, and newsgroups tend to suffer from a lot of off-subject and annoying messages, mailing lists have managed to maintain a high signal to noise ratio and are some of the most interesting applications of the Internet. Mailing lists allow groups of people with a similar interest to discuss matters via e-mail and respond to each other.

Mailing lists work by sending out a single message to all members of the list, called subscribers. If you join a list you'll see all of the messages and, depending on the list, be allowed to respond and have your message distributed automatically to everyone else. They are public discussion forums.

There are two basic types of mailing list, one-way and two-way. One- way mailing lists are typically used for distribution of information and allow just one or a small group of people to send messages while anyone can receive them.

Lists can also be public, where anyone can join, and private, where approval is needed before you can join. Subscribing is handled automatically in the case of public lists and usually just involves sending a message to the address of the software running the list. The software usually has a name such as listserv, listproc or majordomo. Don't confuse the list address either, this is the address of the actual mailing list and is used for messages to subscribers only.

In very busy lists you will also sometimes find moderation. This is a practice in which one person, or a team, personally approves each message before it is sent to the list. This has the advantage of keeping annoying messages off the list but can lead to delays in messages reaching members.

Rather than attempt to list all, or some, mailing lists (there are thousands) we will tell you how to access databases of Internet mailing lists so you can search yourself.

Lizst
Liszt is the world's largest directory of e-mail discussion groups according to the operators and you can search the service by e-mail. To find mailing lists that match your interest send a message to liszter@bluemarble.net with the body "search" and then a search expression. For example, to find mailing lists about the Internet send the message, "search internet." For more help, just send a blank message to the same address.

Directory of interest groups
This is a database of Internet mailing lists available, but not searchable, via e-mail. The list is based on the first ever such database, the List of Lists. To get a copy, which will be sent in full and is big, send a message to mail-server@sri.com with the message body "send interest-groups." If you have Web access you can access a search form at http://catalog.com/vivian/interest-group-search.html.

Publicly accessible mailing lists
This is another long running service online operated by Stephanie da Silva. It is posted to Usenet groups newsgroups news.lists and news.answers and not available directly by e-mail but you can obtain a copy using the Usenet to e-mail gateways that will be documented tomorrow.

University of Buffalo
The University Of Buffalo runs a large number of mailing lists from its server because of its connection to both the Internet and BITNET. To get details of all the mailing lists supported send a message to listserv@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu with the message body "index."

Mailbase database
Mailbase it the UK's major electronic mailing list service and supports many lists and can also serve users files associated with the lists. For details of how to use the service send a message to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk with the body "index mailbase."

Gateway services
In addition to the services available for use with e-mail there are also a number of gateways that exist to allow users with nothing but e-mail to access the rich world of Internet applications. Many gateway operators ask that those with direct access to the services use that method to keep the gateways free of unnecessary traffic.

When we were looking for information for this section we used a variety of search methods and resources and found "Accessing The Internet By E-Mail" by Bob Rankin, aka Dr. Bob, to be continually returned on our searches. There's a good reason: it's an excellent guide and frequently updated.

To get a copy send a message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the message body, "send usenet/news.answers/internet-services/access-via-email." European users can e-mail mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk with the message, "send lis-iis e-access-inet.txt." The file also explains how to get a copy of the list in any one of almost 30 languages.

It goes into much more information than we could and is regularly updated so you are recommended to get the document!

(Martyn Williams/19960620)