1) What is a listserve?
A listserve (or alternatively,
listserv, as it's short for listservice) provides an e-mail based method of
communication in which all members automatically receive messages posted to the
group. On this listserve, members can respond to the group or privately to
other members, although we encourage group participation in topics that will be
of interest to all. Members need not check a website or a bulletin board
therein to pick up messages --- they will receive them as part of their incoming
e-mail. A listserve provides a sense of lively immediacy in communication
not available through a website.
CIVILWARCOLLECT's website
is used for an introduction to and explanation of CWC, in addition to providing
a means to subscribe, unsubscribe, contact the list owners, and go to the
members-only archives and the Forum. A link to a list of CWC members' Civil War-related websites will also soon be available on the site.
2. Will
being on this listserve increase the amount of spam I get?
No. CIVILWARCOLLECT is spam protected, and messages from e-mail addresses that are not subscribed to the list will not post to it---they will do a pretty little bounce back into the dark regions of cyberspace where they belong. The CIVILWARCOLLECT e-mail list is also not for sale or rent at any price. We (Bob and Nancy) are the only ones with access to it, and we loathe spam. NOTE: Any members found using the addresses of fellow members for spam purposes, including but not limited to unrequested online sales catalogues, will be subject to immediate expulsion from the list.
3. How much mail can I expect?
It varies according to the queries and the topics being discussed. At this writing (September 1999) it can range from 5 to 35 per day. If your mailbox system has a limit and your mailbox becomes "full" --- usually a result of you not checking it --- you will be automatically unsubscribed from the list. You can clear your mailbox and resubscribe. We do not accept subscription requests from e-mail addresses from free-of-cost web-based e-mail services for two reasons: their inbox storage is too small for high-volume mail and there is no verifiable identification information on the individual using the address.
4. What if it's too much mail for me to handle?
An energetic listserv isn't for everyone, and the ability to keep up with it depends on the individual's schedule and level of interest. No one should feel that CWC mail is a chore that they have to keep up with. There will be days when your schedule demands you excericise your delete key finger, and days when you can enjoy reading and responding to the posts..
5. If I go away for a few days, should I unsubscribe?
It's up to you and the capacity of your e-mail server. If you wish to avoid any potential full-mailbox problems, it is perfectly all right to unsubscribe before you leave and resubscribe upon your return.
6. How do I post to the group?
There are several ways. To post to the group, which is what we encourage unless a matter is of a private nature, you can send the message to civilwarcollectlist@cwcollect.com, an address you can file in your address book for ease of posting. (You can name it CWC, Post, List, or whatever you like in your address book.) Another quickie way to post to the group is to click on an incoming CIVILWARCOLLECT post, hit 'REPLY TO ALL," and simply delete the individual sender's address, which renders the listserve address the only one remaining in the "TO:" box. You can also post right from the main page by hitting the "POST" button.
7. How do I post privately to an individual?
Simply "REPLY TO" and add in your subject line "PRIVATE." Should you receive a private message, do not post any part of it in any response to the group. Private messages are just that: private.
8. How long can my message be?
Long enough to get your point across, with it in mind that every post takes up some of Bob's bandwidth. You can help cut down on post size by deleting extraneous parts of the previous post when you "REPLY TO ALL."
9. How do I know incoming mail is from CIVILWARCOLLECT?
To differentiate the listserv mail from the rest, we ask that all members put CW at the beginning of the subject line. This also helps members who set up their inboxes to filter all CIVILWARCOLLECT mail into a folder as it comes in.
10. How do I create a CW mail filter?
It will vary from program to program, but in many the Inbox Assistant will do the trick. Create a folder in your mail program called CW, then signify that all mail with CW in the subject line is to be filed in that folder as it comes in.
11. What should go in the subject line besides "CW"?
Add a brief description of the content. Posts can by numerous, and not all members will have the time to read all of them. Half the battle of getting your post read by the people you want to reach is to use the subject line properly. Below are some standard subject headers:
12. How can I get previous posts or ones
I missed while I was temporarily unsubscribed?
We have archived all of the previous posts. You can view them by selecting the week ending date. You will have to enter your password (e-mail) address to view the digest. You can enter the archives by clicking on the index "CIVILWARCOLLECT Archives(Members Only)" on our home page or click here to view the archives now CWCOLLECT ARCHIVES
13. Can I get digests of posts?
Not at present. CIVILWARCOLLECT is a live, interactive listserve and we want it to maintain that sense of lively immediacy.
14. Can I post non-Civil War related items?
No. This is our most strictly enforced rule, as that way lies chaos and thousands of unrelated postings. A short OT (off-topic) comment in a Civil War-related post is acceptable, but please keep it to a bare minimum. If you have Civil War items for sale or up at auction, please do not "piggy-back" unrelated items in with them. If you want to discuss non-Civil War topics, we invite you to use the CWC Forum.
15. What else can't I send?
Attachments of any kind. Some members' systems can't handle them and there is always the danger of a lurking virus. If you want members to see an image, please post the URL to the group or offer to send JPG's PRIVATELY to those who wish to receive them. If you do not have a web site or web space, you are allowed to upload your photos to our "photo" directory.
16. What contitutes reasonable "For Sale" listings?
For Sale and At Auction
notices are quite welcome, as CIVILWARCOLLECT is a format for the
discussion of Civil War collectibles AND their exchange. After all,
we're all looking for more goodies to add to our collections. However,
in the interest of saving time and bandwidth, if the list is quite lengthy,
like 3/4 of a catalogue, you might want to note a few of its highlights
and let the members know they can contact you privately and you will send
it to them privately. Similarly, if you have scads of stuff at auction,
you may want to note some of the highlights and then post the URL to your
ongoing auction page where they can find all of the items listed. But if
it's just a handful of items, feel free to post and describe them.
You can also post
asking price with them if you like, or say "price available upon request."
Everyone does business a little differently, and you are welcome to apply
your own approaches to it.
17. Can I ask what something is worth? Occasional value inquiries are acceptable if you're completely in the dark about something. We're all here to assist fellow members. However, repeated "What's it worth?" inquiries that amount to a lot of free appraisals are not well received. For values, we recommend acquainting yourself with current values at shops, shows, and online, as well as checking North South Trader's Civil War Collector's Price Guide.
18. What if I have a disagreement with another member?
We want everyone on
CIVILWARCOLLECT to get along famously, but this is planet Earth and that
doesn't always happen. If you have an unresolved dispute AND have done
everything you deem reasonable to alleviate the matter and ONLY if the
listserve is involved, you may pass it along to Bob and Nancy. Please do
so only after great consideration. We are here to serve as a medium of
communication between collectors, not as mediators of disputes. While
privately sent messages are not within our
control, repeated private flaming by one member to another, if
directly related to CWC activities, is considered an abuse of the
list.
Please be patient with new members. We were all newbies once, and such mistakes
as posting in all capital letters (SHOUTING) and posting incorrect material
should be gently accepted from new members. Give new members time to get
the hang of it, and if you must correct someone on a lapse or error, please
do so privately and with good grace.
19. What if I have technical problems?
Please do not post "server down," "can't get into eBay," "what's up with AOL," and "anyone know a good digital camera for sale" messages. We all have our ups and downs with hardware and software, but CIVILWARCOLLECT is not the place to discuss them. (You are welcome, however, to use the Forum for discussions of this nature.) If you have a technical problem with getting the listserve mail or subscribing/unsubscribing, please contact Bob, the technical wizard of the two owners. Click on the "E-MAIL" button on the home page.
20. How should I sign my posts?
Your full name, if you like, or a designation like "John B. in WI." Please do sign all your posts to cut down on any confusion --- your name is not readily known from an e-mail address in the "From" box. No handles are allowed, like "Cannonballer in Colorado." We are who we say we are in this list. If you have a business, it's perfectly acceptable to sign off with it: "Ed Horton, Dixie Relics in Des Moines."Members should also feel free to sign off with their website address.
21. What are all these crazy acronyms, like LOL and IMHO?
As e-mail does not
allow us to see one another's expressions nor to catch the inflections
in one another's speech nor the time to type out every single word we're
thinking, abbreviations and emoticons are often used. Here are some of
the standard ones:
22: Who's in charge?
Bob Buttafuso of Centreville
Electronics in Centreville, Virginia, and Nancy Dearing Rossbacher of Orange,
Virginia. Nancy is managing editor of North South Trader's Civil War, but
the listserve is not affiliated with the magazine. This is a service provided
free of charge to the collecting community and we are donating what little
free time we already didn't have to maintaining it, so we ask that members
abide by the rules, give careful consideration to their words, and have
a great time!
IMHO In my humble opinion
LMK Let me know
LOL Laughing out loud
TTYL Talk to you later
:-( Sad
:-) Happy
:-D Very, very happy
;-) Wink
And yes, on-topic laughter
is both welcome and encouraged on this listserve --- we are here to learn
AND to have a good time.
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