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Dear Biomch-L readers,
Further to Krystyna's posting today, I might mention once again another way
of locating a particular user's email address, which works on LISTEARN servers
but not necessarily on LISTSERV servers, to be used before posting a general
CALL FOR HELP onto any list. LISTEARN is EARN's version of LISTSERV which
operates outside EARN. The two are compatible, with subtle, individual
differences.
By sending the command
SHOW USER keyword
to LISTSERV@HEARN.BITNET or to listserv@nic.surfnet.nl, *all* lists on
the addressed site are scanned for `keyword' -- whether it is contained
in a subscriber's email address or in his/her personal name of at least
two words (i.e., containing at least one blank). Try it for your own
name and email address.
A slightly annoying point may be that so-called `concealed' subscribers
(i.e., those who do not show up in reply to the REVIEW list_name command
to a LISTEARN server hosting the relevant list) are not protected from
this type of inquiry. However, the generated reply does not state to
what list(s) the requested keyword matches, so some privacy is maintained.
For example, not everyone might like to be known as a subscriber to lists
on sensitive topics. Also, you don't have to be a subscriber to any list
on the relevant server (I believe) to qualify for obtaining a reply to your
query.
For other SHOW options, you might send the command SHOW ? to the same
addresses.
Regards -- hjw.
Further to Krystyna's posting today, I might mention once again another way
of locating a particular user's email address, which works on LISTEARN servers
but not necessarily on LISTSERV servers, to be used before posting a general
CALL FOR HELP onto any list. LISTEARN is EARN's version of LISTSERV which
operates outside EARN. The two are compatible, with subtle, individual
differences.
By sending the command
SHOW USER keyword
to LISTSERV@HEARN.BITNET or to listserv@nic.surfnet.nl, *all* lists on
the addressed site are scanned for `keyword' -- whether it is contained
in a subscriber's email address or in his/her personal name of at least
two words (i.e., containing at least one blank). Try it for your own
name and email address.
A slightly annoying point may be that so-called `concealed' subscribers
(i.e., those who do not show up in reply to the REVIEW list_name command
to a LISTEARN server hosting the relevant list) are not protected from
this type of inquiry. However, the generated reply does not state to
what list(s) the requested keyword matches, so some privacy is maintained.
For example, not everyone might like to be known as a subscriber to lists
on sensitive topics. Also, you don't have to be a subscriber to any list
on the relevant server (I believe) to qualify for obtaining a reply to your
query.
For other SHOW options, you might send the command SHOW ? to the same
addresses.
Regards -- hjw.