[redwoodmen] Text files for automation
- From: "Craig Addleman" <c.addleman@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <redwoodmen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2001 13:18:21 -0700
Conrad,
Actually there are about 2 dozen files we can edit for automating various
things.
One of them, called the "Closed Subscribe File" is sent in response to a
non-subscriber posting to the list. We could insert a short explanatory note
about how to subscribe.
(By the way, another way to subscribe is to use the freelist website, at
//www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/lsg2.cgi, but I don't think it's any
simpler than the method you used to subscribe. Another option is for an
administrator to enter the names of subscribers, manually.)
Some of the other server-side text files would be quite useful. One is a
"FAQ" file that is sent in response to emails with, I believe, "FAQ" in the
subject line. Another is "Info", and serves a similar purpose. Another is
designed to refuse Spam, and others handle various scenarios such as sending
a standard response to someone un-subscribing or someone who is being kicked
off the list.
Decisions should be made concerning these files and other settings before
the list is opened up for general use. And a strategy needs to be devised on
how to launch the list. At this point, I see my role as being a technical
advisor who has quite a bit of list experience. I don't see myself as a
leader or policy-maker of any sort. And I really don't want to be a
moderator of this list, although I'm happy to stay on as a co-administrator
in order to help troubleshoot technical issues, at least for the beginning.
That being said, here are my suggestions:
Either you or an informal core "steering group" should decide what settings
to use. (I'll work on getting a list of them put together.) When that's
done, enter all the names from the list you gathered at the last Weekend,
and send a welcome message out to all informing them that they have been
subscribed. (I've transcribed the list to a computer file, so it would take
only a couple of minutes to drop them into the server-side text file.)
If we do it this way, I have two more suggestions, based on several years of
subscribing to lists:
1. The welcome message should be inspirational, provocative and stimulating
in order to generate some discussion. It should also describe how to access
the FAQ and other informational files. Also, subscribers should be informed
that the list is available in a daily digest format.
2. "Lurking" should be discussed. A lurker (such as myself on most of the
lists I have subscribed to) is someone who rarely contributes to the list
but actively follows it. Lurkers should be made to feel welcome. Eventually,
hopefully, they'll contribute.
3. If the list is initially quiet, someone in the core steering group will
hopefully jump in and get some energetic discussion going.
4. Most lists die, so the general idea here is to get the list going in a
lively direction at the outset.
I don't have any strong feelings about any of this, other than it would be
nice to see this list take off with some of the energy I've seen at the
Weekends. To that end I'll help with any of the technical or list management
questions/issues you have.
Also, how do I get in touch with Alan Fitch, I think it's a great idea to
get some list info onto the regular Redwood Men's Center website. The
Freelist folks also offer a web page for our exclusive use, but I don't see
any benefit since RMC has it's own site already. Feel free to pass on my
phone number to him: 415-454-8616.
~craig
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