2. Administrative
2.1 How to get on the List
To subscribe to the Thead BBQ List, 
Click here
Follow the directions to subscribe to the BBQ List. You have a choice--regular or
digest format.
You can subscribe by email also:
To get the DIGEST version of the BBQ List, send this line in the SUBJECT (not the body)
of a message: SUBSCRIBE BBQ-DIGEST
email to: bbq-request@listserv.azstarnet.com
To get the regular version of the BBQ List, send this line in the SUBJECT (not the
body) of a message: SUBSCRIBE BBQ
email to: bbq-request@listserv.azstarnet.com
2.2 How to get off the List
To unsubscribe to the Thead BBQ List Click here
Follow the directions to unsubscribe to the BBQ List.
You can unsubscribe by email also:
If you get one big message two or three times a day, send this line in the
SUBJECT (not the body) of a message: UNSUBSCRIBE BBQ-DIGEST
email to: bbq-request@listserv.azstarnet.com
If you get many, many messages throughout the day, send this line in the
SUBJECT (not the body) of a message: UNSUBSCRIBE BBQ
email to: bbq-request@listserv.azstarnet.com
To change from the regular to digest format or the other way around, you must first
unsubscribe to the format you are currently receiving and then subscribe to the format you
wish to receive.
2.3 Posting guidelines
Editor--
As with any newsgroup or mailing list, there are certain courtesies to which all
subscribers should adhere.
1 We are all friends here. There should be no posts that are insulting
or degrading to any members of the List.
2 Flame wars. When someone does post an insulting or degrading
message, it's best just to ignore it. What often happens is that the post is responded to
and a flame war on the List ensues. This is a total waste of bandwidth and does nothing
but make people mad and hurt feelings. Flame wars have no place on the BBQ List.
3 There are women and kids on this List, so all posts should be
respectful of that audience.
4 Avoid sending posts to the List that are devoid of any real
information content to the List members, such as 'one-liners' and 'me-too' posts. These
just waste bandwidth.
5 Use private email to a List member for messages that are not of
concern or interest to all List members.
6 When you reply to a post by another List member, cut the original
post to the minimum number of lines necessary to make a meaningful reference. Please save
the bandwidth--the Internet is getting to be a very crowded place.
7 When posting to the BBQ List, never include attachments, such as
documents, drawings, sound files, video clips or pictures. Many email programs cannot
process attachments and sending them can cause all kinds of problems, as well as wasting a
lot of bandwidth. If you have an attachment you wish to share with the List, please put it
on a Web page and post its URL.
8 When posting a message to the List and you have a barbecue-related
question, make sure that the subject line of the message reflects your question. For
example, 'Subject: How do I smoke fish?' will get you answers.
9 Advertising on this List is discouraged. If you do it, expect to
get flamed big time. If you can condense your ad to a couple of lines, put it in your
signature. Then no one will complain too loudly. If someone asks questions about your
product or service, just answer them by private email.
10 Remember, we're here to have some fun and to share information on
barbecuing.
2.4 Front porch rules apply
[What does "Front Porch Rules" mean?]
Rodney Leist--
The BBQ List is a loose-structured, tight-knit group of folks from all over the world
who have adopted a casual 'front porch get-together' climate for discussions. If you've
never participated in a front porch meeting before, here's the way it usually works.
Generally, at the start, serious topics are discussed in depth and at length with many
varying opinions, pro and con, thrown out for whatever they are worth. For us the topics
involve what and how to barbecue (and all that goes with it).
As time wears on, jokes and bull sessions are injected and other topics gradually creep
into the discussions, displacing the primary topics. Some folks who are not interested in
the off topic exchanges, may decide to take care of some other business for a while.
Hopefully most of them gradually return. Occasional lulls in the conversation occur. Some
folks get busy or stop to ponder, or maybe even sulk, then all of a sudden, the discussion
fires back up to a "Del key" numbing pace before once again returning to
issues focusing around the primary topic. The cycle continues into the wee hours of the
night, again and again and again. Along the way, somehow we manage to talk a lot about
barbecue.
With any front porch gathering, there's always assorted types of folks from 'very
verbal' to 'quiet and reserved', and so it is with the BBQ List. Some posters you like,
some you respect, some you tolerate, some you wish would go away and some you hardly even
know are there. The single most important thing gluing the front porch session together is
that everybody stepping up on the porch is there because they have something in common and
want to be there. Listening, learning, participating and tolerating who and what you don't
like is what it's all about. These are the things that make the front porch meeting work.
So, come on up and grab a chair.
2.5 Digest vs. individual messages
The List is set up so subscribers have a choice of how they receive the BBQ List. If
someone wants to participate regularly in the discussions, they can subscribe to the
regular BBQ List and get individual email messages. If they would rather mainly lurk, and
only follow-up occasionally, then the digest will keep their inbox clutter to a minimum.
The BBQ List can be a busy place at times, with upwards of a 100 messages or more a day
(or 4-5 digests a day). So if you subscribe to the regular List, be prepared for a whole
lot of email. As some folks say: "Happiness is a full email inbox." You may
change from regular to digest forms of the List easily, (or digest to regular)--see
Sections 2.1 and 2.2 above for directions.
