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).

The server sends a confirmation message to the subscribed address, which youobviously miss now. Try
to subscribe under your new address and then
unsubscribe again. Check out the type of confirmation the server wants.
Try to unsubscribe your old address now. Send a message like the one required
after one or two hours. Make sure your old address won't bounce messages
back to the server.

>  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

You can disable it somewhere, I'm sure.

>     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.

That would be a disaster. Currently it is administrated by Jory Bell, who,in a spirit of
non-interference, is doing a great job (Hi, Jory!) The PIClist
is independant and without bias. If Mchip owned it, usefull discussions on
for instance, Scenix parts, would be taboo. (And some of us would have
been mysteriously 'unsubscribed' by now ;) ) Jory does it for no compensation
so cannot be expected to hold everybody's hands

It is up to the subscribee to display some measure of responsibility to keep
the (clear) instructions sent as a first message. No-one can expect Jory to
unsubscribe all the people who didn't RTFM.

>     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

Now I'm getting pissed. If you think you can do better than the 'idiot', thenyou should set up your
own PIClist. I'll bet anything that you won't last 6
months before cracking up.

> 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?

The single digit IQ person could unsubscribe you manually. It seems apity you insulted him, though.
The fix is to RTFM, and even more
importantly, STFM (save the manual).

--
Friendly Regards

Tjaart van der Walt
mailto:tjaart@wasp.co.za

|--------------------------------------------------|
|                WASP International                |
|R&D Engineer : GSM peripheral services development|
|--------------------------------------------------|
|SMS mailto: tjaart@sms.wasp.co.za  (160 chars max)|
|     http://www.wasp.co.za/~tjaart/index.html     |
|Voice: +27-(0)11-622-8686  Fax: +27-(0)11-622-8973|
|          WGS-84 : 26¡10.52'S 28¡06.19'E          |
|--------------------------------------------------|