A subscriber can be an active participant on the list by sending new messages or replying to messages sent by other subscribers. A subscriber can also lurk by reading the messages without sending out any messages. Lists can be public or private. A public list is open to anyone with an interest in the list subject. Private lists can be joined by meeting the criteria of the list.
Lists also come in two types.
The first is an announcement list in which you receive announcement messages but cannot post to the list. The second type is a discussion list in which everyone posts and participates. Every list has an administrator or moderator. After you subscribe, the adminstrator will e-mail you details and instructions about the list. It is usually a good idea to save these instructions as the directions for unsubscribing are included.