[Nfb-web] *Important Alert* Be Aware of and Check Archiving and Other Privacy Options In Mailman Mailing Lists

[Steve Jacobson]

Mika,

Since I've helped as a backup for Dave Andrews in the past and have looked some at options for our 
state's lists, I would like to raise a couple of points.  First, though, I am not a cheerleader for 
mailman.  However, I also think that most of your concerns can be managed.  

When A new list is set up on NFBNET, it is not necessarily set up as though it came "out of the box."  
We have lists that are "hidden" in that they do not show up on our general NFBNET page, and there are 
hidden lists that are also not archived.  Part of the reason for establishing NFBNET has been to provide 
a way to show the public what issues are important to blind people and to see how blind people think 
about such issues.  With the increasing number of lists over the years with specific purposes, though, 
this role is somewhat more complex now.  Dave Andrews is very familiar with the settings that can govern 
a list and he can be of help.

While I do not think it is right for someone to believe a list is private when it isn't, I also think we 
have to be somewhat realistic about how private e-mail is.  Certainly one does not want controversial 
legislative plans to be immediately available on Google, but one always has to be aware of the fact that 
once written, something can be accidentally forwarded to the wrong place.  Some care should be taken as 
to what is put in writing even if not archived.

In looking at other list software, one has to be careful to not just look at what the software can do 
but also how well it can be managed.  I find it very frustrating, for example, that I do not seem to be 
able to simply change an e-mail address on Google Groups.  It appears I have to delete and add again.  
If any of you know that there is a better way, please let me know.  We have also tried to provide a 
system that one can count on to be accessible over the long haul.  More than one of us has experienced 
the frustration of managing a list only to find one day that we can no longer easily perform certain 
functions.  

Please understand that my intent here is not to be a commercial for Mailman or NFBNET, but rather just 
to explain some of what we try to do and to make the point that you are not the first to raise these 
concerns.  Your concerns are valid ones, but they are known issues when a new list is set up on NFBNET.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:26:06 -0500, Mika Pyyhkala wrote:

>Greetings,

>There are some settings and options in the widely used Mailman mailing
>list program which you should be aware of, and verify that your lists
>are appropriately configured.

>Archiving Options
>When a Mailman mailing list is set up out-of-the-box, the Archiving
>Options are set such that the list traffic is searchable.  In other
>words, the default setup is not private, and data can be searched via
>search engines that is posted on these mailing lists.  This could be
>an issue if you internally use Mailman mailing lists in your affiliate
>or group for confidential discussions, or for items that are not yet
>ready for public release.  It is simple to turn the search feature
>off, but again, this is not the out of box default configuration when
>you create a list, and the system does not readily prompt you that
>this should be checked.

>Other Options: There are other privacy options which you may want to
>check that have to do with, for example, where list members can see
>other subscribers.

>I would also be curious if any of you recommend alternatives to the
>Mailman mailing list solution.  While it has a lot of features, it is
>somewhat cumbersome to use, and again I don't think its out-of-box
>configuration is the best.  It also sends out the monthly reminders
>which you may not need, especially if you have an announce only list.
>I realize you may be able to turn these auto generated messages off,
>but I have to think there is a better mailing list solution especially
>for announcement based or internal use lists (as opposed to forum type
>discussion lists) which Mailman originally was likely designed for.

>Thanks,
>Mika Pyyhkala

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