Mailing lists are usually free and there are thousands of different types, usually based around common interests. Once you know the name of a mailing list that interests you, joining it is easy. Typically all you have to do is to send an email with the word "subscribe" + the name of the mailing list in the subject area. Who you send the email to depends on the list you wish to subscribe to.
Once you have sent your email message, the list server will send you back a welcome email with information about the list and how to use it. Sometimes you will receive a confirmation message to which you must reply as a security measure. This confirms that it is really you requesting subscription.
TIP - Before subscribing to a list, check to see if the list is relevant to your needs. If the list is archived it is possible to browse past emails before you subscribe.
Posting a message on a list
To participate in a list you simply send an email message to the mailing list's address. You should complete the "Subject:" line of your message as you would if sending the mail to an individual. Write your message in the email body, and send it off.
Leaving a mailing list (unsubscribe)
When you join a mailing list you will receive a "welcoming" email message which contains useful information including how to unsubscribe from the list. The procedure for unsubscribing from different mailing lists is often not obvious, so it is a great help to be able to find this information quickly when you need it.
TIP - Keep the welcoming email when you subscribe to a new list. This often contains useful information.
How you unsubscribe to a mailing list depends on the software which is used to manage it. Usually you have to send an email message to the mail administrator with the words "unsubscribe" or "signoff" in the subject area.
Okay, I've Subscribed. Now What?
After successfully subscribing to a list you will receive a welcome message
telling you that you are now subscribed to the list. Keep this message
in a safe place for later reference. The message will contain valuable information
for unsubscribing should you find out later it isn't what you expected.
It also contains the email address you use to send messages to the group. This address is different than the address you used to subscribe to the list, so pay particular attention to it.
You may also get a run down on any rules the group has accepted for posting messages and, if it's an automated list, an explanation of the computer commands you'll need to know to get other information about the list.
Once you're on the list we recommend that you lurk (only read the list) for a week or so to get a feel for the tone of conversation on the list. You'll also pick up on any convention that your messages are expected to follow.
Some formal lists expect everyone to follow set protocols and members can become quite verbal if you fail to follow the crowd.