Online discussion groups and mailing lists
allow many people to participate in worldwide online discussions about a common interest (e.g. environmental protection). With discussion groups (e.g. Usenet News) you participate online with a browser (Netscape or Internet
Explorer). This is called the Web Interface. With mailing lists (e.g. Listserv or Majordomo) you participate using eMail. This is called the eMail Interface.
Advantage of Web Interface: you can see an archive (list) of old messages. Disadvantage: the server can be slow; you pay for the online connection all the time you are reading and writing.
Modern technologies such as Yahoo Groups (which recently took over eGroups) support both Web Interface and eMail Interface, according to your requirements. For example you can configure the system
to receive new messages by eMail and at the same time use a browser to read old messages which were written before you joined. The Web Interface of Yahoo Groups / eGroups lets you choose the language you want to use for the
navigation buttons (see
There is also a File area for storing files of common interest (e.g. The ZERI Philosophy), a Calendar for important dates (e.g. the next ZERI Meeting) and a Links list with links to other sites of common interest. Diskussionsforum African Action
Online forum from the association African Action e.V. to announce new events and for general discussion of topics related to African culture:African Action eGroup with German navigation (i.e. buttons)
You need to apply for membership (join the group) before you can read the messages and files (see below). Yahoo Groups and eGroups are free of charge both use the same servers (you see the same messages).
The messages are not moderated (i.e. if you are a member anything you write will be automatically published online). Joining a group or a newsletter
Joining a group by email (eMail Interface)
Joining a group using a browser (Web Interface) Note: With the E-Missions group, it can take about a day until your membership has been activated.
With Yahoo Groups you normally need to apply for a Yahoo ID (i.e. a Yahoo eMail address, free of charge) to use the Web Interface. This limitation does not exist for eGroups - you can use any email address.
Joining an eGroups group using a browser (Web Interface) if you already use the eMail Interface
Go to the group's homepage and click "Sign In". Then click "Forgotten your password?" and follow the instructions. You will be sent an Authorisation code by eMail. Check your eMail and then follow the
instructions to specify a password of your choice for your Web Interface membership.
Joining a Yahoo group using a browser (Web Interface) if you already use the eMail Interface
Cancelling your subscription You want to use another eMail address for your subscription |
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