[Reading-hall-of-fame] RE: RHoF mailing list- how it works

[Colin Harrison]

Hi Bob

Thank you for your query. I am happy to inform you that you are not
banned from the list; neither has the system made an 'error'. But since
you are the third person this month who has tried to post and been
disappointed, permit me to tell you why this happened. I'm copying this
message to the list, because I think others may find it helpful.

The RHoF mailing list is formed from the email addresses given to me at
the RHoF breakfast, augmented by addresses that are given me by the
Secretary, and also from people who are members of RHoF who have not
done either of these things, but who contact me asking to be added.

It is not, as you suggest in your message, 'restricted by any criteria I
have established'.

Unless I tell the system different, all members of the list can post
messages, and no member has ever been banned from posting. However, if a
member changes their email address and does not inform me, the software
is not intelligent enough to deduce the fact, and refuses to accept
postings from a non-listed person.

So, for example, if the RHoF list has <rruddell at calmail.berkeley.edu>
listed as a member, it will not accept postings from 
<rruddell at uclink4.berkeley.edu>, although the Berkeley mail system may
be clever enough to continue to forward mail that it gets from RHoF to
the old email address. If that member's email address then changes again
to 
<rruddell at berkeley.edu> the Berkeley system may still continue to
forward messages, but the Nottingham system will not accept postings
from that person. The system does tell me if it's rejected an intended
posting, and if I spot a name I recognise, I will add the changed
address to the list. 

But this won't always happen, for two reasons: sometimes a person's name
isn't always transparent (for example <csrrca at uiuc.edu> - sorry, Dick!),
or the bounced posting might get lost among the blue pill mailings that
I'm so busy keeping off the list.

The good news: if you have received this message, it's because the RHoF
knows you are a member.
The bad news: if you have received this message but can't post your
reply to the list, it's probably because my system does not have your
current email address, or because you are posting from a different
address than the one RHoF know about (for example, if you have your mail
forwarded to a second address, you won't be able to post from that
second address unless you have asked me to authenticate it).

The moral: please send a message to me at 
<colin.harrison at nottingham.ac.uk> if you change your email address, or
if your system changes your email address, then you will be able to
receive and post messages.

Many thanks,

Colin





-----Original Message-----
From: rruddell at berkeley.edu [mailto:rruddell at berkeley.edu] 
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 2:40 AM
To: colin.harrison at nottingham.ac.uk
Cc: rruddell at berkeley.edu
Subject: List of RHF members

Greetings Colin,
I just sent a message to the RHF members through your operation.  It
seems
I am not listed as a member. Plese respond to me and let me know how you
have formed your list-serve.  Is it restricted by some criteria you have
established.  Can you please correct this error? Thank you.
I hope you are having a good spring and your work is going well.
Best,
Bob Ruddell