Resent-Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network
Approved-By:  Marty Hoag <NU021172@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.new-list
Date:         Tue, 26 Jan 1993 20:17:00 CST
Reply-To:     mshappe@harper-hall.cit.cornell.edu
From:         Michael Scott Shappe <mshappe@harper-hall.cit.cornell.edu>
Subject:      NEW: TREK-REVIEW-L for Star Trek reviews

TREK-REVIEW-L on LISTSERV@cornell.edu
   A mailing list for Star Trek reviews

   About the list:
   ---------------

   TREK-REVIEW-L exists as a noise-free forum for reviews of Star Trek
   material. This category includes but is not limited to television
   programs, feature films, novels and novelizations, comic books, games
   and parodies of Star Trek.

   THE list is not rooted in any specific generation of Trek.  Original
   Series, Animated Series, Movie Era, Next Generation and Deep Space
   Nine materials are all valid.

   ONE way to perceive this list is as a kind of edited electronic
   fanzine.  Where 'rec.arts.startrek.info' is a kind of Trek newspaper,
   containing only hard news and plot summaries, this mailing list exists
   for CRITICAL opinion features written by and for the electronic mail
   audience.

   IF a 'rec.arts.startrek.reviews' newsgroup is created in the future,
   this list will gateway into it.

   THERE are three categories of acceptable submission: review, rating,
   and comment.

   'REVIEW' is defined as a CRITICAL essay about either a specific work
   or Star Trek in general.  Posts of the form, 'I thought that TNG's
   latest episode, "Foo on Picard" was the awesomest episode ever' or,
   similarly, 'I thought that DSN's latest episode, "O'Brien Gets Drunk"
   sucked backwards' are not acceptable.

   'RATING' is defined as a graded or numeric rating. If you wish to
   merely register your opinion without critical comment, then you may
   send such a rating to the list address. Ratings collected in this
   manner, as well as copied from reviews, will be posted periodically on
   a per-episode basis.

   'COMMENT' is defined as a CRITICAL response to a review. This is not a
   discussion list; however, CRITICAL responses to reviews sent to the
   list address which the moderator believes to be of general interest
   will be bundled together and published in digest format as a 'letter
   column'.

   SUBMISSIONS should be sent to 'TREK-REVIEW-L@cornell.edu'.  Accepted
   submissions are acknowledged by publication. Rejected submissions will
   be acknowledged by a return letter, explaining why the submission was
   rejected.

   What the list isn't for
   -----------------------

   The list is not a discussion list. Neither, however, is it intended to
   displace 'rec.arts.startrek.current' as another home for reviews.
   Rather, it is intended as an alternative access point to critical
   opinion about Star Trek for people who find
   'rec.arts.startrek.current' overwhelming or cannot access it for some
   reason. It is expected that many of the reviews posted to the list
   will also find their way (assumedly at their author's hands) onto
   'r.a.s.current'. That, therefore, is where discussion should take place.

   The list is not for press releases or plot summaries without
   commentary. That's why we have 'rec.arts.startrek.info' (thank you,
   Jim!)

   The list is not for the redistribution of commercially published
   reviews, with or without permission. It is for the posting of comments
   for and by members of the various electronic networks that make up or
   exchange mail with The Internet.

   The list is not intended as a replacement for proposals to create a
   'rec.arts.startrek.reviews' newsgroup. Rather, it exists to fill the gap
   some feel such a group would also fill until efforts to create such a
   newsgroup are successful. Neither, however, will that newsgroup
   necessarily mean the end of this list.

   Joining the list
   ----------------

   TO subscribe to the list, send the following command IN MAIL to
   'LISTSERV@cornell.edu' --

           SUBSCRIBE TREK-REVIEW-L Firstname Lastname

   FOR further information about the Cornell Listserv, send the command

           HELP

   to the LISTSERV address.

   PLEASE

   * DO NOT send subscribe requests directly to me unless you have
     first tried to subscribe through the automatic system and failed (and
     yes, I will know if that is the case, since I'm also the server
     manager and get copies of error messages).

   * DO NOT try to send to 'trek-review-l-request@cornell.edu', because
     there ain't no such animal.

   THE correct request address is 'LISTSERV@cornell.edu'.

   THE correct submission address is 'TREK-REVIEW-L@cornell.edu'.


   About the Cornell Listserv
   --------------------------

   The Cornell Listserv is based on Tasos Kotsikonas' Unix Listserver.
   Many commands are similar to those found on BITNET's Revised Listserv
   (by Eric Thomas(?)), but many are different. PLEASE use the HELP
   system to get information about any command you are unsure about.

   The Cornell Listserv expects to receive only commands in the body of a
   message. Many mail user programs (foolishly) reproduce what should be
   header information in the body of a message, confusing Listserv.

   In particular, QuickMail users should use a BLANK QM form when
   interacting with Listserv -- that is, a form with NO text
   pre-inscribed on it -- just a text box for the user to type in.

   If you experience difficulties and believe this is the cause, contact
   me.

   Finally...
   ----------

   This list is something of an experiment. I've been toying with the
   idea of an on-line fanzine of this sort for many years, and this
   seemed like the Right Time. Furthermore, if it can help to establish
   whether or not USENET needs another Star Trek newsgroup, it will have
   served a useful purpose. It may turn out that a mailing list is
   enough; it may show that there is so much interest in an reviews-only
   group that a newsgroup would be beneficial; or it may show that
   interest is small enough that even a mailing list is too much effort.
   Only time will tell. In the mean time, I hope that those interested
   will join the list, either to read, or to participate.

   Yours in service the dream,
   Uncle Mikey
   mss1@cornell.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU