Thumper Mailing List FAQ

Frequently-asked questions about the THUMPER mailing list
Last updated 1/17/1996 by Alan Fleming (alanf@dorje.com)

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What is the THUMPER mailing list? Do I have to ride one of those brand X bikes to be on this list? How do I subscribe to THUMPER? How do I get the "digest version"? How do I send a message to everybody? How come I never saw the distribution of the message I sent? How do I unsubscribe? Who can send mail to the THUMPER mailing list? What happens when I "reply" to something THUMPER sent me? What files are available from the server? Can I get these files via ftp? What does this error message mean? What else can LISTSERV do for me? What if this FAQ didn't answer my question?

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1) What is the THUMPER mailing list?

The THUMPER mailing list has been created for the owners of single cylinder motorcycles. This is an attempt to foster communication between owners. Topics range from racing single cylinder bikes, repairs, hop-ups, common problems & solutions and more.

2) Do I have to ride one of those brand X bikes to be on this list?

Not at all. I'm hoping that the focus of this list will be broad enough to cover all types of single cylinder bikes. Don't be shy about criticizing the list if it gets too brand oriented. I'd like to see street and dirt, 4-stroke and 2-stroke, racers and street riders all combined on this forum.

3) How do I subscribe to THUMPER?

It's all run by the listproc mailing list server software.
Send mail to: listproc@dorje.com with a message body consisting of:

SUBSCRIBE THUMPER Firstname Lastname

Please replace "Firstname Lastname" with your NAME - what people call you. NOT your e-mail address - what computers call you. Your e-mail address is picked out of the headers of your mail. This means that you should send all administrative mail from the same place where you initially subscribed, and will get all list-mail at that same address.

4) How do I get the "digest version"?

The digest is a different "mailing mode" of your regular subscription. It gathers all the messages sent to the list on a given day into a single mail message. This is useful for reducing mail traffic but does tend to limit interaction in discussions. This mailing mode is controlled by you.
Send mail to listproc@dorje.com consisting of:

SET THUMPER MAIL DIGEST

(You can combine these requests to the server into one mail-message when you subscribe. It'll first subscribe you, then set your mail-mode, then send you separate acknowledgement for each request. Its wise to put two dashes "I.E. --" before your .signature so that listproc doesn't try to interpret those lines as commands.)

5) How do I send a message to everybody?

Send anything you want to thumper@dorje.com and your message will be distributed to all subscribers.

6) How come I never saw the distribution of the message I sent?

By default, the server doesn't send you back copies of your submissions. You can change this - send mail to listproc@dorje.com with a message body consisting of:

SET THUMPER MAIL ACK

The default is "NOACK". The "DIGEST" mode also implies "NOACK".

7) How do I unsubscribe?

Send mail to listproc@dorje.com with a message body consisting of:

UNSUBSCRIBE THUMPER

(No name is required - it's keyed on your address from the e-mail header)

8) Who can send mail to the THUMPER mailing list?

Actually, THUMPER is set to "permissive" mode for incoming list-mail it will accept and distribute messages text from anyone, regardless of whether they are actually subscribed. Obviously, non-subscribers won't receive copies of their submissions and won't see any of the responses.

9) What happens when I "reply" to something THUMPER sent me?

Depends on your mailer. In general, using most mailers' "REPLY" command will send your response to the entire mailing list - NOT just to the originator of the message to which you're replying.

Please be courteous and trim down the text from the original message so that your reply includes ONLY the minimum quotation necessary to establish context. Quoting an entire message (especially when responding to only a small portion) is irritating to those reading your message. Internet convention is to append new material AFTER the quotation to which it applies, often with multiple blocks of new stuff interspersed with the quoted stuff..

10) What files are available from the server?

No files are currently being maintained on the server. As interesting articles are sent to the list or useful files are made available then I'll work out the details of setting up a file server via the mailing list.

11) Can I get any files via ftp?

Yes! All the list archives are available via anonymous ftp from:
ftp://ftp.dorje.com/pub/mailing-lists/thumper/
If you have any problems, send me email at: alanf@dorje.com

12) What does this error message mean?

Any errors are probably because I haven't enabled all the features the listproc software supports so this listproc doesn't know how to handle your command. Please email me a copy of anything strange you receive so I can correct the problem. I'll attempt to add more features as the list grows.

13) What else can LISTSERV do for me?

Several other features are available. For a list of possible LISTPROC commands, send mail to listproc@dorje.com consisting of

HELP

14) What if this FAQ didn't answer my question?

Send mail directly to Alan Fleming at alanf@dorje.com