And how do you find them? Based on another thread today, it seems like a good thing, but didn't even know they existed!
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@LovelyPlum: Ah! So glad someone else asked this -I have no clue either!
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I have no clue what it is either.
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I am also curious!
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Never heard of it before today!
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Haha, clueless as well! I thought it was kind of like a Facebook group, but seeing that there was a fee to join... now I really have no clue.
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@LovelyPlum: @Mamaof2: It's an electronic mailing list. Most are run through Yahoo groups. You ask to join, sometimes you have to say why you want to join. I am a member of 3 listservs, 2 are local parent listservs, and 1 is a neighborhood listserv. The one with the nanny situation is very popular and you have to pay to join but most are free.
People write in to tell you reviews of neighborhood things, events, ask questions, meet up, sell used items, search for needed items, etc. I love being a member of them!
I receive the digest version: so at the end of the day I get an e-mail message that has all the messages sent to the group during the day. You can also receive every e-mail as it comes in but that was clogging up my inbox.
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@swurlygurl: There's a fee??? huh? Add me to the clueless....
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@mrsjazz: So is it kiiind of like Facebook, just a different platform? Or more like a forum?
ETA: Nevermind, saw your addition
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Our listservs are free to join. I think they are more common within cities. In Baltimore, there are listservs for different neighborhoods and serve as a resource for childcare, activities, events, etc.
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@mrsjazz: interesting - I will have to see if we have them!
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@swurlygurl: Not like FB in that people have profiles. I would say it's more like a message board/Craigslist.
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@LovelyPlum: There's a good explanation and a bunch of local listservs mentioned here!
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-06-22-Momsonline22_ST_N.htm
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@mrsjazz: sounds cool!
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@autumnlove: Yes! We just started a working mom meet-up on my neighborhood listserv. And I've sold and given away lots of stuff through it.
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Listservs seem so.... old school!
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@mamimami: Hahaha. That's what I thought, too. But the old is becoming new again
It's also pretty cool since this is a big city, so the news doesn't cover everything but my neighbors do!
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Listservs have been around for a loooooooooong time. Like even before the internet.
Basically it is an electronic mailing list. You email the mailing list and each message goes to everyone on the list. Typically, there is a specific topic of interest. Back in the day, there were listservs about bands or Dungeons and Dragons
At work, we have the same thing (I think in Outlook, they are known as distribution groups). You might be on "All Employees in USA" or "Jennifer's Team".
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I had no idea, either!
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@LovelyPlum: there are none around us; that I know of. The closest we have are the FB resale groups which I still need to invite you to....LOL
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hahaha. So you all read my thread with no idea of what a listserv is?
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@mrsjazz: yes, haha.
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My area has a listserv too, but I really do think it's an urban center thing. Like my listserv is just for 1 square mile...and it's VERY active. People mainly use it for nanny recommendations, lost and found, posting parenting-related events, and as a parenting-related classifieds. I've gotten all kinds of used items for super cheap on mine--I got our Boon high chair for $50 in perfect condition, free foam floor tiles, free bottle warmer, $15 Ktan wrap, etc.
Ocasionally people post nanny-sitings or crazy vents like "To the mom who disciplined my child in the park today"
It's extremely old school, but where I live most moms (and a smattering of active dads) join to buy/sell ask questions.
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@mrsjazz: Haha, I just assumed it was a local message board type thing... I think your post came across well without knowing for sure what it was!
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I was a member of two while I lived abroad...it was mostly used to advertise things people wanted to sell or local events. I also got the digest version, once a day!
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@mrsjazz: haha, I assumed it was like a neighborhood FB but didn't *really* know what it was. My neighborhood has a listserv apparently. I am in it but didn't know they are listservs.
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How do you find/join them? Do you just Google it?
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@mrsjazz: I assumed it was like a neighborhood reddit or hellobee haha! I'm SO glad someone asked this question. Little old rural suburban me was so confused
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Not parenting related, but listservs are very common in my line of work! Great place to ask questions/share info with similar people.
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@Meridian: A local business owner/mom told me which ones I should join when I moved to the neighborhood but Google works, too.
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@mrsjazz: @mrbee: thanks! I knew what a listserv was-we use them at school all the time. I was just really, really confused as to how they existed outside of a school/company
@locavore_mama: gotcha. And yes, please!
It's also pretty cool since this is a big city, so the news doesn't cover everything but my neighbors do!
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