151 Bosconet: mailing service
 NEW COMMUNICATION SERVICE FOR THE REGION
 
Julian Fox
 
SUVA (Fiji): 18th Feb -- 'BOSCONET-austraLasia' is pleased to present a new communication service for those who wish to use it.  It is an interactive mailing list called austraLasia@bosconet.aust.com presently operating as a 'closed' list.  The closed nature of the list means simply that any user who wishes to join is first checked by the list moderator.  Once on the list, any member's contribution via the above email address is sent to every other member.
This service is different from the existing 'austraLasia' newsletter - on receipt of information worthy of broadcast, I presently send the newsletter out to some 500 members.  No other member can 'post' to that list.  With this new service, you have the opportunity to hear from and post to other Salesians or Salesian-minded people who are accepted on the list.  If the topic is of no particular interest to you you can simply delete the item on receipt.  Your email programme would allow you to set a filter, anyway: you might not want to hear about streetkids, or items only from Australia, or receive pics from Port Moresby or whatever.  You set your email programme to filter any subject headings with those items into a bin!  But far better, initially to wait and see, I'd suggest.
Just three important pieces of information to make this list operable:
1,  The key word in the addresses in (3) below is austraLasia with Capital L in the middle.
2. There is an etiquette involved in email lists of this kind.  By all means post what you want, but remember that up to a thousand others (the total capacity of this list) will receive what you write.  Best not to carry on a conversation aimed at just one other. Nevertheless, the normal process involves you responding to a particular email message - your comments will normally be of interest to many if not most others.
3.  What to do to get on - or off - the list, and to do other things with it?
austraLasia-subscribe@bosconet.aust.com will allow you to subscribe.  You will receive a confirmation message to reply to, ensuring you really want to be on the list.
austraLasia@bosconet.aust.com is the address for you to contribute anything you want.  It will go to all other members of the list.
austraLasia-remove@bosconet.aust.com - if you want out, this is the way to do it!
austraLasia-index@bosconet.aust.com returns a list of subjects of the last 100 messages sent to the list.
austraLasia-index.55_150@bosconet.aust.com will return a specific range - in this case 55 thru 150 message subjects.  Change that parameter according to desire.
austraLasia-get@bosconet.aust.com returns the full text of the last 10 messages.
austraLasia-get.77@bosconet.aust.com returns the full text of a specific message (e.g. 77).
austraLasia-get_lost@bosconet.aust.com will not do what you think it will!  In fact it won't do anything!  In joining the austraLasia mailing list, you are joining the very core of what the internet is about - an unmoderated, non-hierarchical network of beings who simply wish to engage in good conversation and communication about mutual interests.  There will be no need to attack the moderator who only performs a technical function of getting you on the list.  He cannot supervise, select or otherwise fiddle with your comments.  Enjoy!
By the way, whether you subscribe or not to the austraLasia list, you will still receive austraLasia the E-letter; unless you absolutely, uncompromisingly and determinedly wish to be left off that too!
Oh and one more thing.  I note that the report (in Italian only) on Salesians and the internet, saw Bosconet as a good enterprise, but limited only to the English Language!  Depends how you look at it.  There are links in Bosconet in Portugese, French, Spanish, German and Italian, to name a few. Sites such as Bosconet with international appeal probably have to adopt a lingua franca but should include links to sites in any other language at all.  On the austraLasia list, feel free to use any language you like except bad language.
Julian
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BOSCONET - website of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Australasia region, serving especially the Asia-Pacific area, operating out of Fiji, and found at http://www.bosconet.aust.com
'austraLasia' - English language internet news service for the Salesian region of Australasia.
Contact the webmaster at jbfox@ozemail.com.au or jbfox@bosconet.aust.com or jbfox@is.com.fj