List Members FAQ

What's a listowner? What's a moderator?

(aka Who are these tyrants and dictators and why can't I put Admin in the subject line, too?)

Listowners are ultimately responsible for the list and it can be a lot of work to start and run a list. It can mean lots of work finding a suitable list service, setting it up, publicizing the list, approving members and/or posts to the list. On discussion lists, it can also mean starting conversations, hoping that someone, anyone will reply and keep it going. On announcement lists, it can mean scouring for news, both offline and on, scanning articles and pictures, doing screen captures, even setting up and running a website to support the list.

And it means dealing with problems on and off the list, handling problem list members, flamers and trolls, unsubscribing people who figured out how to join but now demand rudely to be removed, checking out bouncing members and dealing with any problems with the list service.

It also means being able to find people to share a common interest or obsession with, a place to chat endlessly about a new episode, book or movie, sharing pictures and making friends. It is the best thing to do and the worst thing to do! :)

The term "moderator" can mean different things. It can be a technical term, on lists that are moderated, (a list where every message has to be approved before it's sent out to all the list members), the moderator is the person who actually approves the messages. Or "moderator" can simply mean assistant listowner, someone who helps out the listowner with running the list. Some lists have several assistant listowners who each handle different functions on the list, one may handle checking out and approving new members, one may handle approving messages, one may help maintain a list website. And some lists have co-listowners, equal partners in running the list.

On most lists, listowners, assistant listowners and/or moderators set the tone, initiate conversations, handle trolls, flamers and spammers and generally help keep the list running smoothly by keeping it on topic and useful to the majority of the members. But this varies from list to list, some lists are more tightly controlled, all messages moderated, new members posting detailed introductions, etc. while others are more relaxed, little or no moderation, anyone can join, post an intro or not as they like, few rules, off-topic posts allowed or even encouraged. And both styles of list management can be equally effective, depending upon the purpose and topic of the list and the list members.