Re: SCROOTS Questions - Steven J. Coker
Subject: Re: SCROOTS Questions
From: Steven J. Coker
Date: April 07, 1998

There may be some confusion about how the forum operates.  Allow me to explain. 
I'll send this explanation to the forum for all who might have similar
questions.

I do not distribute a membership list.  Members subscribe and unsubscribe
themselves automatically using the instructions found at
http://www.wp.com/Coker/faq5.html and at various other places on the net.  I do
not monitor routine subscription changes and only get involved when a problem
develops.  I do have access to the current membership list at all times.  The
list is maintained on the rootsweb server and all it contains is the email
addresses of current subscribers.

As soon as someone subscribes to the forum, they begin receiving the forum
messages and can post messages to the forum.  But, I recommend reviewing some of
the forum mail before posting in order to see how others do their messages.  The
best way to do this quickly is to examine the archives posted at
http://liszt.bluemarble.net/read/SCRoots-L.  Most newbies make common mistakes
such as quoting excessively, posting off topic materials, using poor subject
headers, providing inadequate information for queries, repeating frequently
asked questions, etc.  Such faux pas can be avoided or minimized by spending
some time reading in the archives before commencing to write.

It is up to each person to decide what information they choose to make public
about yourself.  This is best done by placing the information somewhere in the
body of the message.  I recommend putting a short (3-7 lines) "text signature"
at the bottom or top of each message giving the writer's name and contact
information.  Similar to how you would in a regular letter.  The forum server
automatically adds forum signature/taglines to all messages distributed in the
forum.

Of course, if someone is in a witness protection program, hiding from an
ex-spouse, or in any other way "in hiding", then they probably should use a
pseudonym and be careful what they say publicly.  But, that should be obvious to
anyone who is in hiding.  

Email programs create "headers" for messages they send.  These headers include
information that the sender has configured in their email program such as email
address, reply-to address, name, etc.  Headers are not part of the body of the
message and may be lost or altered when a message is forwarded, replied to,
printed, etc.  The analogy would be that the header is similar to the return
address on an envelope.  Most people throw away envelopes after opening
letters.  So, the best way to assure that your contact information remains
permanently associated with any mail that you write is to include it in the body
of the message as a text signature.

Hope that helps,

Steven J. Coker
SCRoots Forum Manager
[email protected]
http://www.wp.com/Coker

PS  I lived in Aiken for the first 2 years of my life while Dad was working on
construction of the Savannah River Plant.  I was the "Safety Baby" for the
construction project and they put my picture on safety posters.  Totally
unrelated information, but your comments about Aiken stirred this memory.


R. Hugh Simmons wrote:
> 
> I just subscribed to SCROOTS-L in order to post the BOLTON Family Research
> query.  I put my name, address, and phone numbers at the end but left the
> e-mail address off assuming it would be included when you posted it to the
> list.  Could I ask you to add it into my message, or should I send a new
> copy to you only which you can then re-post?
> 
> How long will this query remain posted?  I got two positive responses within
> 48 hours after sending the query to the list.
> 
> The only other list I subscribe to is LAWINN-L which is sponsored by the
> Winn Parish Genealogical & Historical Society in Winnfield, Louisiana.  I am
> a native of Winnfield and living in Pennsylvania these past 15 years.  My
> younger son Steve "went home" without knowing it!  He graduated from USC in
> Columbia in 1996 and is living in Aiken, SC near where all the BOLTONs came
> from!
> 
> Hugh Simmons

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