The history of discussion groups dates back to the fledgling
days of the internet when email emerged as a communication tool within the university
and military research communities. They are the precursors of the instant messaging and
chat rooms we use today, or at least our kids do. Their enduring appeal stems from their
simplicity, effectiveness and the depth of knowledge and understanding that can be
harvested from the collective experiences and intellect of the membership.
Mail to the subscription address will return a set of instructions on how to join and
post to the list. Generally, an overview of the list's philosophy, purpose and operating
guidelines will also be included. Caveat - once hooked, they can absorb a tremendous
amount of time. For effiency and keeping your inbox uncluttered, create an email
rule to direct them to a separate mailbox for later viewing. You may also wish to
receive single digests of activity to prevent floccipoccinihilipilification
- the act of rendering as useless. (flox-ee-pox-ee-ni-hi-li-pi-li-fi-cay-shun, 29
letters, the longest word in the English language. |
