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Archiver > Listowners > 1997-12 > 0881611236


From: Becky Smith Gallops <>
Subject: Re: AOL Problems
Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 20:00:36 +0000


At 12:01 PM 12/7/97 -0800, Sharon wrote:

>We have only one list, but about 300 AOL subscribers. I have absolutely no
>objection to the AOL subscribers - many of them are contributors to our list
>and of course they have no problems with AOL - but the rest of them are
>nothing but a pain in the rear! The reason - they don't take the time to
>learn about their software, how to use it properly, how to use it to it's
>fullest and then they blame RootsWeb when there Digests are screwed up and
>still don't want to learn about their software!

From the discussion that has been taking place on this list, I'm not sure
that there aren't some people who have objections to AOL subscribers. It's
not just AOL subscribers who don't take the time to learn their software. I
can't even count the number of times I have tried to assist listmembers who
were having trouble with misconfigured return addresses or were operating on
very little knowledge of their email program and many of them had "regular
ISP's". If I have the time to help them, it's not a problem, if I don't,
they are going to have to figure it out for themselves. It is really that
simple.

I don't understand why we are beating this horse to death over and over
again on the listowners list. It's not a RootsWeb problem. It's an AOL
problem. This issue needs to be addressed at the AOL level, not on this
list. We've already established that. Let's hand it over to the folks at AOL
and get on with other business. If digests are a problem for AOL'ers on your
lists, put a snippet in your WELCOME message explaining the problem and ask
them not to post messages about this to the list and move on. If you think
you might have a way to help them, try to if you have the time.

I have the usual bounces from AOL and so far have had no trouble with
digests, although I understand how frustrating it must be for both
listmembers and listowners alike. I have subbed to some digests from my AOL
address to see the problems for myself so I will be better informed about
the issue. The bottom line is that no matter what you do or say, there will
always be someone, somewhere who is cyber-impaired. They won't know how to
use their email software, they won't know how to subscribe or unsubscribe
and if they do, they won't know how to spell it, and no matter if they read
your WELCOME 50 times, they still won't understand that there is a problem
with receiving digests from AOL. Repeatedly bashing AOL on this list is not
going to make any difference in any of these problems and just remember that
AOL subscriber who is such a pain in the rear may be the one who knows where
to find your most elusive ancestor.

Becky

Becky Smith Gallops

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