» uk-usability: faq

1. general information
   1. What is uk-usability?
   2. Other uk-usability resources
   3. How do I sponsor the list?

2. once you've joined the uk-usability list
   1. How many emails will I receive?
   2. Does it cost me?
   3. What if I experience problems using the list?
   4. Is the list moderated?
   5. Can I switch the mode in which I receive messages?

3. posting to the uk-usability list
   1. How do I post to the list?
   2. What should I put in my posting?
   3. What should I put as the title?
   4. Can I send a file/attachment with my email?
   5. Why don't you allow html?
   6. Why didn't my post show up?

4. ending and changing subscriptions
   1. What if I change my email address?
   2. What if I want to unsubscribe?

a. general information

1. What is uk-usability?
   The uk-usability list is a discussion mailing list for new media types who have an interest in developing, researching or just chatting about usable web interfaces. Members of the list are largely UK-based.

2. Other uk-usability resources
   There are several other useful bits and pieces on the Chinwag site aside from the list itself. The books page lists the latest good reads relating to usability topics.
   Go to the links page if you're after a list of useful links including links to interesting articles, usability research companies etc. We're constantly developing this section so please feel free to contribute new links.

3. Sponsorship on the list
   The uk-usability list is open to sponsors. It's a great opportunity to reach a very specific audience. Interested? drop us an email for more info.

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b. once you've joined the uk-usability list

1. How many emails will I receive?
   You should not receive too much mail from the list as it is in it's early days. As it grows, traffic may increase. Remember, you can always alter your subscription to receive messages in digest mode by sending an email to digest-uk-usability@chinwag.com.

2. Does it cost me?
   Nope, uk-usability will cost you nothing. All we ask is that you let us know if we can improve the list in any way. If you have any ideas, please contact us.

3. What if I experience problems using the list?
   Contact help@chinwag.com with problems, queries or suggestions or click on the help links to get more details on a specific topic.

4. Is the list moderated?
   The list is moderated which means that every uk-usability message is checked by a real-life-human-being before it is posted to subscribers. The list is moderated to make sure that only relevant emails get through to subscribers and to keep spam off the list.

5. Can I switch the mode in which I receive messages?
   Yes. You can receive mails in digest mode or individual mode. You can select this when you subscribe or if you are already a subscriber and wish to changed the mode, you can just send a blank email to digest-uk-usability@chinwag.com (if you want digest) or to mail-uk-usability@chinwag.com. Check the digest page for details.

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c. posting to the list

1. How do I post to the list?
   It's easy to post to the list. Just write an email with your comment and send it to uk-usability@chinwag.com.

2. What should I put as the title?
   If you are starting a new thread of conversation, choose whatever you like. But if you're responding to a thread already on the go, it's best not to change the subject header as the header directs readers on the list to which conversation your email belongs to.

3. Can I send a file/attachment with my email?
   Please don't send attachments with your email! These take up a lot of room on the list so we have to remove them from postings. They also slow down the posting process so everyone benefits if they're avoided.

4. Why don't you allow html?
   html is verboten on the list because not everybody can read mail in an html format. Plus html mails are a lot longer than text mails and weigh heavier on the poor server.

5. Why didn't my post show up?
   There are several reasons why this may happen. Firstly, the server may be very busy or indulging in a crash - in which case, we're sorry and please be patient with us!

   Another reason could be that you sent the mail to the wrong address - double check your 'sent mail' and make sure you've sent it to uk-usability@chinwag.com

   You may have sent the mail with an attachment or as html (see above). Finally, we may have a query about your posting, in which case one of our gang will contact you to let you know why your posting didn't appear and to get the extra information.

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d. ending and changing subscriptions

1. What if I change my email address?
   You should send an email from the email address under which you have subscribed to the list to unsubscribe-uk-usability@chinwag.com. Then you need to drop an email to subscribe-uk-usability@chinwag.com using your new mail address.

2. What if I want to unsubscribe?
   Unsubscribing is easy to do. In every email you receive from the list there is link at the foot of the text - click on this to unsubscribe. Or you can send an email to leave-uk-usability@lists.chinwag.com. If all else fails, you can send a message to help@chinwag.com. But things shouldn't go that far.

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