The Internet is a multi-facted communications media. This is a group mailing individuals can subscribe to, free of charge. Lists are dedicated to specific subjects, but the discussion on the livelier ones are quite wide-ranging.
Lists fall into two broad categories, discussion and announcement only.
Discussion Subscribers submit messages that are broadcast to all the subscribers on the list. On unmoderated lists, posting takes place automatically. On moderated lists, messages are approved by a moderator before posting. Occasionally, a list will be semi-moderated. Subscribers who send objectionable messages will be dropped from the list.