One "Gotcha" - when you upgrade Netscape, it can decide for you that
you want to start sending HTML messages by default.  Exasperating!

  In NetScape, try this to disable HTML messages for a bit:

  Hit Edit, Preferences, Mail & Groups, Messages; then make SURE that
the "By Default, send HTML messages" checkbox is not checked.

  Click on OK at the bottom, and THEN, send an unsubscribe message.

  (See Ray Gardiner's message on this same thread for details there.)

  I suspect the listserve's workload is just too large for anyone to
manage it manually - >I< sure don't have the time, and I imagine nobody
else does;  I'm sure there's somebody who does (I've seen his posts,
maybe it's more 'n one person - thanks to him or them!) - but the
regular day to day subscribe/unsubscribe volume could be so large that
it's just not practical (I'd rather visit the girlfriend than manage a
mail list!)

  Mark Willis, mwillis@nwlink.com

Bob Spafford wrote:
>
>   About 2 months ago, I subscribed to this list.  Soon, it was evident
> that I would have to transfer my PICLIST address to an "alias" e-mail
> account so that my other mail would not be buried in the blizzard of
> PICLIST mail.  I have tried to SIGNOFF PICLIST at least a half dozen
> times over the last 2 months.  I notice that all communications from the
> list server carefully omit any information on how to contact a HUMAN
> BEING at MIT.   I have CAREFULLY followed ALL instructions on the
> subject of "SIGNOFF", both from the list server as well as the many
> postings to the list from other subscribers having the same SIGNOFF
> problem.  I have tried sending  sending commands to LISTSERV.....EDU and
> LISTSERV.....BITNET.  I've tried with and without subject line (In case
> that the list server is too stupid to ignore it).  I've sent copies of
> these attempts to SIGNOFF back to myself to make certain that there is
> no signature block or ANY other characters in the body (in case the list
> server is too stupid to ignore other characters after parsing the
> "SIGNOFF PICLIST" command).  I suspect that Netscape's e-mail may be
> trying to speak HTML, and that the list server is too stupid to ignore
> it.  Of course, e-mail viewed with Netscape looks normal because, most
> likely, it hides this wonderful "feature"  from the user.  Also, I've
> tried commands in upper and lower case (assuming that the server is too
> stupid to ignore case).  I have insured that the return e-mail address I
> sent is exactly and precisely the one which was used to subscribe
> (assuming that the server is too stupid to allow for the situation in
> which a user subscribed from an e-mail service which has been cancled or
> has gone out of business). Of course, it goes without saying that the
> server is too stupid to return an error message when it gets commands
> which it does not understand.
>
>     Do any of you subscribers  have the desire to try and change the
> list server to one which is administered by someone who has a
> functioning brain?  I think that it would be great if someone at
> Microchip could take over list server administration.
>
>     If this is not possible, is there anyone out there who knows ALL of
> the obscure hoops which must be jumped thru to make this
> programmed-by-idiot server perform what seems like the simple job of
> stopping the "service"?  A COMPLETE "cookbook" on this onerous task
> would be a most welcome posting for this subscriber. If someone knows
> how to contact the administrator, there may even be a chance to get the
> "Welcome to PICLIST" message to include information on what the
> subscriber REALLY has to do to successfully SIGNOFF PICLIST.
>
>    I find PICLIST to be a source of valuable information (buried in the
> "noise", of course).  It is a shame that it seems to be run by someone
> with a single digit IQ. Any sggestions for a fix?