A list created by listserv software connects e-mail users with similar interests for the purpose of discussion and sharing ideas and questions. Each list has an owner who controls who can be a member of the list and what is distributed by the list. With thousands of lists in existence on the Internet today, there is a list for almost every vocation, avocation, passion, and cause.
Lists are exciting because they connect people around the world with similar interests and concerns.
At the same time, lists can become a bane of people's lives. Because some lists distribute scores of messages a week. Frequently, when people first discover the wonder of lists, they join too many lists too quickly and end up with an avalanche of e-mail. A good word of advice, therefore, is to start by sampling membership in a list or two rather than by quickly subscribing to half a dozen lists that sound interesting. Since lists are free and always seem to look helpful, most of us are tempted to join a number without giving much thought to the consequences.