HOW TO TAKE PART IN THE MIDDLEWEB LISTSERV
USING THE DIGEST VERSION OF THE LIST
If you prefer to receive the DIGEST version of any MiddleWeb list (all messages
compiled into a single daily email), send
us a note and ask to be moved to the DIGEST version. Be sure to tell
us which List you're referring to -- MWLIST (general daily discussion) or
MWPROJECTS (our reading/writing workshop group).
Our DIGEST can sometimes be difficult to read. Some List members use email
programs that include HTML coding. Although this doesn't show up in regular
messages, it does show up in the Digest. If you find the Digest difficult
to read, try using our regular mail but set up your email program so that
it will put all mail from our listservs in a special folder. Use the Help
in your email program to learn how to do this.
RESPONDING TO DIGEST E-MAILS
You'll get the DIGEST once a day, probably in the wee
hours of the morning. It's compiled by the server at about 3 a.m. ET each
morning.
Open the DIGEST and browse through the conversations. It will show each
message sent to the list during the day.
If you see a message that interests you, and to which you'd like to reply,
do this:
OPEN a new message in your e-mail program.
ENTER this address in the "To:" line: MWLIST@MILEPOST1.COM
COPY some or all of the message you want to reply to and PASTE it into the
new message you've created. It helps if you indicate in some way that the
material you've pasted in is from an earlier message. Some folks type in
a line like this at the top of the pasted material:
JANE DOE WROTE:
Or you can use the function in your e-mail software that allows you to place
text in "quote" format. It's in your menu somewhere. This helps
folks understand that Jane Doe wrote this, and that you're replying to it.
THEN, type your response to what you've pasted in at the top of the new
message.
ENTER A SUBJECT LINE in your new message (like "Writing Portfolios",
etc.) and then send the new message. It will be posted on the list and everyone
who is subscribed to the list will get it.
If list members are still in the regular "mode" -- that is, they
get each message as it is sent -- they can simply select "reply"
in their e-mail program and write a message over yours, if they choose to.
Then they send it to the list and everyone gets it.
If folks are in the DIGEST mode, they won't see your reply - or be able
to reply to you - until they get the next daily DIGEST. And if they want
to reply to you, they'll need to go through the same process I've described
above.
You might think of the difference between REGULAR and DIGEST mode this way:
Regular mode is much like what normally happens with your e-mail -- you
get a message from Mr. X and you reply. DIGEST is more like getting a letter
in the mail. If you want to respond to specific material in the letter,
you have to retype (or COPY/PASTE) that material and put it in your own
letter. In this case, of course, you're mailing your letter out to hundreds
of people!
YOU DON'T WANT TO reply directly to a DIGEST e-mail. It's huge and it will
clog up the system. So my cut-and-paste method is the way to go.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that folks stay in REGULAR mode if possible, because
it's a lot easier to take part in the list conversation that way.
*** ONE MORE TIP ***
For those of you who are new to listservs, this information might be helpful:
-- Remember that each message you reply to will go out to the entire list,
unless you change the "To:" address in your reply. Folks sometimes
do that if they want to send a private message in response to someone's
public message. For example, if John Norton at <jcroftn1@mindspring.com>
writes to list about your writing portfolio message and asks if you would
send some information to him, you will probably want to send it DIRECTLY
to him, not to the list. So you would copy his e-mail address from his message,
choose "REPLY" and PASTE his e-mail in the "TO:" line,
in place of the regular listserv address (which is <middleweblist@sreb.org>).
By the way, if you mistakenly send a private email to the listserv, there's
no getting it back!
John Norton
Your Listserv Guide
norton@middleweb.com
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