[oman-l] Junk mail on this list

[Joachim Duester]

X-No-Archive: yes

Dear list members,

It is very sad indeed that some people or companies which 
are NOT even subscribed to the list have sent messages which 
are in no way related to the subject of this list, i.e. Oman. 

So-called "unsollicited commercial e-mail" (UCE) poses an increasing 
problem for the Internet and especially for maillists. 

This list is an "open" list (see http://www.oman.org/maillist.htm 
for information on the list) - you do not have to be subscribed in 
order to be able to send a message to this list. 

Although I have some experience with the use of filters to 
prevent "spam" from reaching personal e-mail accounts, I have no 
experience regarding filters which can protect a list. 
The only other alternative which I know is to make this a "moderated 
list", i.e. postings to the list are first screened by the list managers
before 
being forwarded to the list members. I am reluctant to make this list a 
moderated list for three reasons: 
1) the relatively small number of messages to the list and the even 
     smaller amount of UCE so far did not seem to make this 
     necessary so far
2)  moderation means some technical changes, the consequences 
     of which are not fully clear to me
3)  it does not only mean an additional burden for list managers, but it
also 
      imposes upon them the role of some sort of a censor, which I for 
      myself would like to avoid (both the additional work and the censor's
role ... )

Let's try to continue: if anyone has suggestions on how to fight the
problem 
in case it gets worse, please e-mail me - preferably directly at
jduester@pobox.com 
as some list members might no be interested in technical exchanges about
spam 
prevention.

BTW: I am not against commercial mail on this list as long as it is related
to Oman 
- so if you wish to sell a book on Oman or have an appartment or a sailing
boat  
for rent in Muscat, don't feel afraid to spread  the news here!

Joachim Duester, Oman Studies Centre, http://www.oman.org