[edit] Simple Definition

Listowner refers to the person(s) responsible for maintaining a LISTSERV list; also called a sysop or system operator. Listowners are often little more than participants in open group discussions, though on some lists they function as editors, deciding which messages will or will not be posted to the list.

[edit] What is a "List Owner"?

(Or, "Who's responsible here?!)

There are two notions (or more?) which come to mind and which should be clearly identified in each discussion list configuration (LIST) file.

1. LISTSERV's notion of "Owner" (LO). This is the userid@node (associated with a real person) who is defined in the list's "Owner= " keyword. There may be more than one of this kind of "Owner= ". In other words, a "list owner" is used as a technical term to refer to the individual(s) who has actual control over setting the values of the various keywords that LISTSERV uses to configure the list and determine its operation. The LO(s) is responsible for the technical management of the list:

• taking care of bounced mail messages,
• setting subscribers to nomail, or
• restarting their mail delivery,
• changing addresses,
• adding and removing subscribers, etc.

The LO may be responsible to the host organization for the conduct of the list. A list owner may or may not participate in the day-to-day activities of the discussion group. This role is different from the role of a list moderator or list editor.

There may be more than one list owner for a list.

2. The mission "Owner". This is a person or committee who is responsible for the policy and purpose by which a discussion list operates. This Owner, the list's "sponsor", is where the proverbial "buck" stops.

Often, Owner number 1 and Owner number 2 are one and the same person.

However, list subscribers should be alerted to the fact that Owner number 1 (i.e., in the sense of LISTSERV) may be acting simply as the agent for Owner number 2. In such capacity, Owner number 1 does not determine policy, and is not responsible for policy. Owner number 1 is, in this sense, simply making sure that the mechanical operation of the list is complying with the configurational definitions for the list.

If the list is operating out of policy, or if the subscribers are not satisfied or have questions with the policy, it is to Owner number 2 that they should direct their concerns.

Yet a third player on the scene...

3. Editors/Moderators always act on behalf of Owner number 2. Editors/Moderators are accountable for effecting editorship/moderatorship as described in the charter of the list, with appeals of subscribers directed to Owner number 2 (not Owner number 1) in cases of concern over the quality of moderation.

LIST OWNER Job Announcement Contentious Discussions, Inc. has an opening for a Discussion List Owner. This is an fine opportunity for anyone wishing to pursue a career in Masochistic Studies, or to gain experience for a real world life.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

   * Taking abuse
   * Acknowledging blame for list configuration keyword settings
   * Creating perfect Filters
   * Upholding Free Speech
   * Quashing off-topic and other undesirable messages and threads
   * Protecting subscribers from spammers
   * Protecting subscribers from each other
   * Protecting subscribers from themselves 

The salary is pegged at the extreme; we ask nothing from the List Owner. Your time is pretty much your own except for those occasions when the List and Subscribers need a modicum of attention.

All in all, this is a rewarding job, likely to fulfill your deepest expectations.

[edit] What do you have to know, and what do you have to do to prepare to set up the list?

Lots.

But, wait --there's more....

Much of what needs to be done is already done, if you can accept the default situation. A few things just must be done specifically for your new list however, and that means you will indeed have to spend some time thinking about your list and preparing some documents.

This will not attempt to describe all of the very specific details you will have to attend to. It gives just a brief overview of the documents you must prepare, or have the option to prepare, and does not go into the detailed contents of those documents. At this time this document is only meant to be a stop-gap guide to what is in store....

[edit] The Details (only in brief)

ACOR uses LISTSERV (by L-Soft) discussion list software. LISTSERV needs to be told how to configure your list. YOU specify the details of that configuration. Many details can be left to default.

The details are specified in an email which you prepare and send to us. We will integrate the information you provide in 2 documents used by LISTSERV.

[edit] The LIST Document

LIST tell LISTSERV the name of your list, who owns it, whether the list is open to anyone or is private, whether it is to be moderated or not, etc. In other words, many critical characteristics of your list are defined here. LIST configuration by you is required; you can't get your list into operation without configuring its LIST first.

[edit] The MAILTPL Document

MAILTPL is where much of the text of the administrative notices, error message, and other textual material used by LISTSERV when "talking" to the list owner, to subscribers, or to those attempting to subscribe or signoff the list. MAILTPL tailoring is optional; if you can live with the default values, editing the MAILTPL file can be avoided. However, there are a few very useful messages which can be installed/tailored in MAILTPL, so you should probably count on messing some with this file too.

[edit] More Documents

In addition to LIST and MAILTPL, there are several other documents which LISTSERV will use if you prepare and install them. These include WELCOME and FAREWELL documents, and the NOTEBOOK which archive all incoming messages posted to your list by subscribers.

[edit] The WELCOME Message

Here is your opportunity to tell new subscribers Hello, and to welcome them to your list. It's the place to explain the purpose and mission of your list, to indicate who the intended audience is, to set some ground rules for participation, how the list will be moderated (if moderated), and any other information that a new subscriber should be told specifically about your list before they begin participating. You can write the WELCOME document so that it serves the additional purpose of telling non-subscribers about the list, so they can decide whether or not to subscribe.

But, if you wish to give non-subscribers a different message than the WELCOME message new subscribers automatically receive when they first subscribe, you can provide that non-subscriber information in the MAILTPL file (see above). The LISTSERV INFO command can then be used by anyone to retrieve this information.

If you do not create a WELCOME message, then no message is sent; there is no default WELCOME message.

[edit] The ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Message

There is a separate administrative message sent out to all new subscribers, which details many of the standard mechanical things a subscriber may need to know about interacting with LISTSERV and your list in general (e.g., how to unsubscribe). The WELCOME message is independent of this administrative message. You do not have to draft or edit the administrative message; a default version of one exists in MAILTPL, and will be used if you don't otherwise tailor it to your liking. It is wordy and tedious reading, but it is a useful document nonetheless, so most list owners go with the default text.

[edit] The FAREWELL Message

When a subscriber leaves your list, you may wish for LISTSERV to send a tailored goodbye and thank-you for participating, and to solicit some off-list comments or suggestions from the ex-subscriber. The FAREWELL message gives you the opportunity to create that goodbye message, tailored specifically for your list.

[edit] The NOTEBOOK files

You don't have to write anything here. Once you specify in LIST whether or not you want to have an archive, called a NOTEBOOK, of all messages sent to your list, LISTSERV will do the rest. It will accumulate the messages into daily, weekly or monthly files that are accessible to anyone, to subscribers only, or only to you depending on how you define the NOTEBOOK for your list. A NOTEBOOK is _highly_ recommended.

[edit] The TOP_BANNER and BOTTOM_BANNER

These two brief, optional texts, if created, will appear at the top and the bottom of each and every message posted by subscribers to your list. An example of a BOTTOM_BANNER might be a reminder on how to unsubscribe from your list (so that the forgetful will not be posting messages to your list asking everyone how to get off the list!). The TOP_ and BOTTOM_ BANNER texts are installed in the MAILTPL file.

[edit] ANNOUNCEMENTS

Creating a new list is fun, but unless you advertise it appropriately, no one will know it exists. You need to create an announcement document that can be posted to any of a multitude of places (e.g., other discussion lists and newsgroups that discuss related but not the same topic [you probably shouldn't create a list that has a purpose redundant with an existing list; posting announcements to too many places, or to very marginally related places is considered a breach of netiquette also]). Once your list is configured properly and is ready for subscribers, you will post your announcement(s) "around town". Now, if you get those documents drafted BEFORE you request to become a list owner, it will expedite the process of setting up your list. ACOR volunteers and staff do the actual installation of the LIST file which starts everything off. Before they can install this file, you will need to have prepared all the necessary and recommended documents. With those in hand, and having been assessed for internal consistency by the ACOR LISTSERV volunteers/staff (based on your own documents' words, and on LISTSERV's own syntactical and semantic requirements), the volunteers/staff can assist you to correctly format the materials, provide you with the many further details you will need to finalize the documents, discuss how to install the one that you as owner can install, and other list ownership responsibilities. Your list will then be ready to install and to be "opened for business".