ROADMAP FOR THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY INTERNET TRAINING WORKSHOP

Roadmap Week 4
by Patrick Douglas Crispen

MAP-EXTRA: POP QUIZ #1 ANSWERS

PART ONE: MULTIPLE GUESS

1. I'm subscribed to the 'squirrel' LISTSERV mailing list (SQUIRREL@LISTS.INTERNIC.NET). I just heard a story about how an energetic squirrel once crashed the mainframe at Mississippi State University during registration (a true story) and I want to share this information with everyone on the 'squirrel' mailing list. What address should I send my e-mail letter to if I want the letter to be distributed to everyone on the "squirrel" list?

b. SQUIRREL@LISTS.INTERNIC.NET

Your letter should be sent to the *list* address. See MAP05 for more information about LISTSERV addresses.

2. I'm looking for a list of all known LISTSERV lists. What LISTSERV command should I use to get such a list?

c. LISTS GLOBAL

BTW, you can send the "lists global" command to *any* LISTSERV administrative address -- it is a universal LISTSERV command. See MAP06 for a huge list of mailing list commands.

3. Okay, I just got the "list of lists." I found a neat list called "NAVIGATE" but the list of lists only shows the address as NAVIGATE@UBVM. What address should I use to send my subscribe command?

c. LISTSERV@UBVM.BITNET

This was a tough question. You had to remember to convert the LIST@NODE address to LIST@NODE.BITNET. You also had to remember that LISTSERV commands have to be sent to the LISTSERV address. See MAP05 for more information about both LISTSERV and BITNET addresses.

4. I want to subscribe to the ALT.ABUSE.RECOVERY newsgroup. I sent an e-mail letter to LISTSERV@LISTS.INTERNIC.NET with the command SUBSCRIBE ALT.ABUSE.RECOVERY MO RON, and I got back an error message saying that ALT.ABUSE.RECOVERY is unknown to the LISTSERV. What's going on?

b. ALT.ABUSE.RECOVERY is a Usenet newsgroup; you have to subscribe to the group from a Usenet reader.

Remember, if the group's name has periods in it, it probably is a Usenet newsgroup. See MAP08 for more information about Usenet.

5. How can I unsubscribe from the Roadmap96 workshop?

c. send an e-mail letter to LISTSERV@LISTS.INTERNIC.NET that says SIGNOFF M* in the body of your letter.

You shouldn't have missed this one. The answer can be found at the bottom of every lesson I have sent you!

PART TWO: TRUE OR FALSE

6. TRUE OR *FALSE* There is nothing wrong with giving my best friend my password.

(NEVER give your password to anyone! See MAP10 for more information about Internet security.)

7. TRUE OR *FALSE* WRITING IN ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED TO BE GOOD NETIQUETTE.

(Writing in all caps is ANNOYING! See MAP07 for more information about Netiquette.)

8. *TRUE* OR FALSE The word "squirrel" would be a poor password.

(The word "squirrel" is in the dictionary, so it would be a very poor password. See MAP10 for more information about Internet security.)

9. TRUE OR *FALSE* Letters to a LISTSERV list should be sent to the LISTSERV administrative address.

(If you missed this one, I am going to send the squirrels after you! Letters should be sent to the *list* address, not the LISTSERV administrative address. See MAP05 for more information about LISTSERV.)

10. TRUE OR *FALSE* LISTSERV commands should be sent to the list address.

(Ditto.)

PART THREE: STARE-AT-THE-BLANK

11. One of my friends just e-mailed me a chain letter offering me good luck so long as I send the chain letter to ten additional people. Heck, there are several *hundred* people subscribed to each of the Usenet newsgroups and LISTSERV lists. Why can't I just forward the chain letter to these groups?

Chain letters violate the relevant posting rule and are likely to turn you into flame-bait. Also -- and this was not covered in the lessons -- most networks and Internet Service Providers have Acceptable Usage policies that strictly prohibit chain letters.

12. Patrick's dad said "DON'T include the entire contents of a previous posting in your reply(s)." Why *can't* I do this?

BECAUSE MY DAD SAID SO! :)

Actually, including the entire contents of a previous posting in your replies is rude. When you do this, you are forcing the readers to re-read something that they have already read.

The purpose of reposting is to simply remind everyone what was said, not to repeat every word that was said. :)

13. If someone spams a list that I am on, what should I do? Why shouldn't I just send my angry reply to the list?

Your best bet is to ignore the spam. If you are really angry, reply to the spammer at his e-mail address or complain to the spammer's site administrator.

You should not send your angry replies to the list because the spammer is probably not even a member of the list and, even if he is, he probably does not care what you think.

BONUS QUESTIONS

14. How many national football championships has the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team won?

d. 12

(See MAP01.)

15. Patrick Douglas Crispen is:

d. a squirrel.

(QED)

(\__/) .~ ~. )) /O O ./ .' Patrick Douglas Crispen {O__, \ { The University of Alabama / . . ) \ crispen@campus.mci.net |-| '-' \ } http://www.ua.edu/~crispen/ .( _( )_.' '---.~_ _ _& Warning: squirrels.

The views, opinions, and conclusions reached in this lesson are those of Patrick Douglas Crispen and not necessarily those of The University of Alabama or its officers and trustees. The content of this lesson has not been reviewed or approved by The University of Alabama, and the author is solely responsible for its content.

PATRICK DOUGLAS CRISPEN
PCRISPE1@UA1VM.UA.EDU