Description and Examples of Listserv Commands

We all received a message from the listserv when we subscribed to the Miles list. You remember -- how to use the listserv commands...

The listserv software provides some pretty cool features if you take the time to learn how to use them. So here's a guide to using listserv commands. Read on to find descriptions and examples of commonly used commands.

The listserv also provides sophisticated search capabilities on the archives. See the Archives section for instructions and examples.

• List FAQ
• Signing off from the list
• Setting subscription options
• Checking your subscription options
• Looking up e-mail addresses
• Subscriber directory

What's the purpose of the Miles List?
Who participates on the list?
I just signed up. What do I do now?
What kinds of questions are appropriate to ask the list?
I have a question about a specific album/tune/date.
Any points of etiquette I should be aware of?
When is it appropriate to comment "offlist"?
What about tape and CDR trading?
What are these acronyms I keep seeing?
Can I post cool pictures or sound clips to the list?

What is the purpose of the Miles List?
The obvious answer is to discuss the music, art, and life of Miles Davis. As you will quickly discover, however, Miles was an enigmatic and complex man, so the discussion on the list often tends to be broad in scope. While discussing non-Miles related topics is inappropriate, it's not uncommon for tangential themes to be explored. For example, social issues, race, politics, culture, other musicians... Most list subscribers seem to enjoy the diversity of opinion and topics, likening the list to a local pub where you go to hang out with like-minded fans. But if you're looking for pure "Miles Content" you won't find it here, and it's 100% certain you won't be able to persuade other list members to post on the straight and narrow path. So be warned: the noise-to-signal ratio can get pretty high sometimes, and don't be surprised when you see that some of Miles's fans are just as nasty and intolerant as he was.

Who participates on the list?
It's a very diverse group of people. Musicians, fans, critics, students, teachers, scientists, business people, bureaucrats... from 35 countries and ranging in age from 15 to 70-something. The (vast? well, at least vocal) majority is male. The common link is Miles, but it's fairly common to find many areas of similar interests among list members.

I just signed up. What do I do now?
Unless you have experience with other mailing lists, it's a good idea to "lurk" for a while, reading posts and familiarizing yourself with the discussion. When you decide to post to the list, or reply to someone else's post, introduce yourself! There's a fairly strong sense of community on the list, and you'll increase your chances of a response if the list gets a sense of a "real person" rather than some gadfly who will probably unsubscribe in a couple of weeks anyway.

What kinds of questions are appropriate to ask the list?
Anything related to Miles is fair game. If you're relatively new to Miles and his music, you may want to check out these books and websites first.

I have a question about a specific album/tune/date.
Start by looking at the Miles Davis database elsewhere on this site. If your question is broader or one requiring more than a factual answer, post it to the list. Remember, though, you may not always get a reply.

Any points of etiquette I should be aware of?
Although it's not required, if you do make a posting with no Miles content, flag it with an NMC acronym (No Miles Content) in the subject heading. If you really want to start a flame war with someone, do it off-list. Try to avoid "contextless one-liners". These are posts made to the list with no traces of the original message to which you're replying.

When is it appropriate to comment "off-list"?
Generally when you want to respond to a post, but feel it has little or no relevance to the rest of the list.

What about tape/CDR trading?
Several members of the list engage in this practice; a list of them is available elsewhere on this site.

What are these acronyms I keep seeing?
MF. "Miles Fan", though it deliberately evokes one of Miles' favorite terms of endearment. If you don't know what this means, read the Autobiography.
NMC, SMC, etc. No Miles Content, Some Miles Content, etc.
LIKSATS. Like I know shit about this stuff. Phrase attributed to Eric Siegel, acronymized by Allen Michie. Use it to insulate yourself from criticism for weighing in on something you know nothing about. (Rumored to be in frequent use at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.)

Can I post cool pictures or sound clips to the list?
ABSOLUTELY, DEFINITELY POSITIVELY NOT! The Miles list is for text e-mail only. Pictures or sound, known as "binary attachments", are not welcome. Why? Because they are typically quite large files. When you make a posting to the list, a copy is sent to more than 500 people around the world. A large binary takes up a lot of bandwidth, and it may possibly lock up a recipient's computer while the attachment is being downloaded or exceed his ISP's disk quota. And said recipient may not have the appropriate viewer/player to open the attachment. Posting a binary to the list will assure that you will be deservedly flamed. It will also generate a warning from the list owner. Do it twice and you'll be unsubscribed from the list, like it or not. If you really want to share your binaries, get a website, upload them, and post the URL to the list.

To unsubscribe from the list, send e-mail like this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: signoff miles

Note: If you're subscribed to the list from two e-mail addresses, unsubscribing from one doesn't affect the other.

If you want to stop delivery of postings temporarily without ending your subscription, see the set nomail command.

These are the commands that determine how your subscription to the Miles List actually works. In this section, you'll find examples for:

• Temporarily pausing your subscription
• Acknowledgement of your posts
• Copies of your posts
• Digest delivery of posts
• Concealing your identity
• Combining set options

If you'd like to maintain your subscription to the list, but stop receiving messages for a while (e.g. when you go on holiday), do this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles nomail

To resume regular delivery (when you return):

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles mail

If you want the listserv to acknowledge receipt of your posts, do this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles ack

If you don't want acknowledgements:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles noack

If you want the listserv to send you copies of your posts (the default is not to do so), do this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles repro

If you don't want copies:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles norepro

You can recieve posts in digest format, delivered once daily, rather than as they are posted. To receive posts in digest format, do this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles digests

To resume delivery as messages are posted:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles nodigests

The listserv maintains a directory of all list subscribers. To conceal your identity from the rest of us (but not necessarily from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the like), do this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles conceal

To allow others to learn of your subscription to the Miles list:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: set miles noconceal

You may combine several of these set commands in a single command to the listserv. For example:

Acknowledge my posts but don't send me a copy:
    set miles ack norepro

Don't acknowledge, but send me a copy:
    set miles noack repro

If you aren't sure which settings are currently in effect, try this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: query miles

This is what your output will look like:

Subscription options for Peter Losin <plosin@gmail.com>, list MILES:

MAIL       You are sent individual postings as they are received
FULLHDR    Full (normal) mail headers (formerly "FULLBSMTP")
REPRO      You receive a copy of your own postings
NOACK      No acknowledgement of successfully processed postings

See the set options section above for details on changing your settings.

You can use the listserv to search for and send you the e-mail address of any current subscriber to the list (so long as she hasn't concealed her identity). Say you want to send a birthday greeting to me but you can't remember my e-mail address. Do this:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: scan miles losin

This is what your output will look like:

Peter Losin <plosin@gmail.com>
SCAN: One match, 13 concealed entries not examined.

(Those 13 concealed entries are anonymous subscribers to the list -- people who don't want to own up to the fact that they're MFs.)

This is also a good way to find out if someone is still subscribed to the list without sending an "Are you there?" query to the entire list.

Want a complete listing of everyone currently subscribed to the list?

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: review miles

This will return a directory of names and e-mail addresses sorted by e-mail service provider. You can use the by option to sort the output by name (alphabetically) or by country:

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: review miles by name

To: listserv@nic.surfnet.nl
Subject: [leave blank]
Message: review miles by country