(IUCr) Discussion Lists

General Information About Discussion Lists

A discussion list (also known variously as a distribution list or mailing list) is a group of people sharing a common interest who communicate by email with the other members of the group as a whole.

An individual may establish a mailing list through creative use of the aliases mechanism of typical email software. However, some special software packages exist to allow more control and better management of mailing lists. The IUCr has installed one such package, known as mailman, which allows the creation and management of a number of discussion lists relevant to crystallographers.

Individuals may subscribe to those lists in which they have an interest, and receive the regular mailings from other members of the list.

In many cases, the discussions are archived, and made available for the public to read. However, individuals may only contribute to the discussions if they subscribe to the list.

Why email?

There exist other ways for groups sharing a common interest to communicate online: dial-up bulletin boards, Usenet newsgroups, Web conferencing software. In many cases, and for many individuals, these are ideal media. However, in many other cases communication by email is preferable.

New contributions are received as they are posted; it is not necessary to make regular visits to a web site or bulletin board.
Messages may be sorted, stored or discarded at will and according to the facilities of one's favourite email software.
With some list software (including the one used by the IUCr) subscribers may choose to receive, instead of the regular postings, regular digests of the correspondence.
Subscribers may archive their own records of the discussion, or use central archiving features provided by the list server.
Subscribers may respond to communications as and when they choose.
Subscribers may leave and rejoin lists (subject in some cases to the agreement of the list owner).
List owners may control the subscription lists and moderate the correspondence for the benefit of subscribers.

Updated 30 March 2004

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