The information super highway; countless intertwining roads of information all merging into one massive freeway. That's 
Internet. Just about any form of information you could ever want, right at your fingertips. The Internet is far more than just websites. Information is delivered via email, downloads, newsgroups and forums just to name a few. In addition, there are literally thousands of ezines, discussion groups and announcement lists.
These groups are composed of individuals who either receive information in form of a publication or share information with a group. Although these lists can provide you with a wealth of information, they can be very time consuming for owners. With that in mind, this article will provide you with some basic list etiquette guidelines.
Ezines
Ezines, also known as email magazines, online publications and electronic newsletters, are simply newsletters available via email and/or online.
Subscribers sign up to receive a publication and may unsubscribe at any time. Publications may be delivered to your email daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly.
Discussion Groups
Discussion groups are groups of individuals who have signed up to participate in group discussions. This type of group delivers messages to your email each time a member posts. When you reply to a message, it will be delivered to entire group.
Announcement Lists
Announcement lists enable members to sign up to receive and post announcements in regard to a specific subject. This type of group may deliver messages as they are posted or you may receive a certain number of messages at one time.
Forums/Message Boards
Forums or message boards are online threaded discussion groups in which messages are displayed on web pages.
Some forums require you to register in order to become a member, while others require no registration.
Moderators
Most types of discussion groups, announcement lists and forums will have one or more moderators. Moderators make sure that posts are appropriate and try to prevent spammers from posting.
Posting Guidelines
No matter what type of list or group you join, each will have its own set of posting guidelines. Make sure you always review guidelines and double-check your post prior to submission. Not only will your message get posted more quickly, but it will also save moderator a great deal of time.
When posting or replying to posts, make sure that you stay on topic. If you're posting to a group that focuses on "Ezines," you wouldn't want to post a question or information about "Gardening." In addition, always be very tactful. Everyone is there to learn and share information. There is absolutely no reason to hurt someone's feelings by publicly humiliating them or being rude. Keep in mind, there is a human being with feelings behind each post.
When posting to an announcement group, make sure you follow posting guidelines. Not only will this save list owner a great deal of time, but it will also prevent you from having to repost your message when it gets rejected.
