1. What is this list all about anyway?
2. How do I join?
3. How do I get off the list?
4. Why are there TWO addresses, and what do they
each do?
5. What other commands can I use to get more info?
6. What do you talk about?
7. Can I pick my own Xanth name/persona, and if so, how?
8. Is there an age limit to join?
9. How many members are there?
10. How long has this E-Mail Thread been around?
11.What do I do if some of my mail doesn't go through?
12. Can I say whatever I want to, no matter if it includes
profanity, and references to nudity and/or sex?
13.Can I possibly send out, or receive, through the
thread, xanth materials, such as a copy of the Companions of Xanth game?
14.How much of my time will this thread take?
15.What if I'm a new user? How friendly and tolerant
of little mistakes are you?
16.Do I have to type in English?
17.Are there people from countries besides the U.S.
on this thread?
18.Are there cliques or favoritism on this thread?
19.Is there a limit to the number of people on this
thread?
20..How strict are you about staying on the subject?
21.Can I send posts which I feel are important, but
are not in any way related to Xanth or Piers Anthony?
22.Do I have to have read all the Xanth novels to join
the thread?
23.Can I send (binary) attached files to the people
on the list?
24.Can I send chain letters to this thread to get them
forwarded?
25.Is Spamming allowed on the thread?
26.How much mail does the list produce?
27.Is "lurking" allowed?
28.Is "flaming" allowed?
29.What is this "NXC" in the Subject lines
all about?
30.Can I talk about other science fiction writers/books?
31. What is the "XT in the Subject lines all about?
32.What is a spoiler?
33.Can my friend/brother/sister/etc. join without an
e-mail account and just share mine, since s/he is also a big Xanth fan?
34. What is the Xanthread homepage and how do
I get involved?
35. What are "Fateful Wishes"
and "The Golden Locks of Hare" and how do I get
involved?
36.What are side threads?
37. Can I use the email addresses of XT
members to distribute non xanth mailings??
38.End notes and links
1) Q: What is this list all about anyway?
- A: On October 23, 1995 the Xanth Thread's founder, StormWing
Centaur, decided to form a Xanth/Piers Anthony E-Mail Thread. In the
beginning, we were just a group of people who had each other's e-mail
addresses and all shared a common interest (Xanth/Piers Anthony),
creating a "thread" of people. Now we have an automated list, so we
only have to send each message to one address, and it is automatically distributed to all of the members. But, the idea is still the same.
A group of people talking about one topic - Xanth and Piers Anthony!
2) Q: How do I join?
- A: Read the Info Letter!
It tells exactly what you should do
to join the list, such as writing up a bio. You will not be approved
to be added to the list, until you have followed the steps outlined
in the info letter. You must read the entire FAQ and at the beginning
of the bio you submit, you must include the line: "I have read the
ENTIRE FAQ, and promise to abide by it!" If you follow all the steps
outlined in the info letter, and read both the info letter and FAQ,
then all you need to do is send me your bio, with the required info.
Please be PATIENT!!! It can take a LONG time to be added to the list.
3) Q: How do I get off the list?
- A: This is very simple! Send mail to the command address.
In the body of the message, type the following:
unsubscribe xanth <youremail@address>
It will send an approval request to me. You can also send me a private
email. If you send me a private email, be sure to include your list
name, and list address. You will NOT receive any confirmation that you
have been removed. You will know that you have been removed, because
you will stop receiving mail from the list.
4) Q: Why are there TWO addresses, and what do they
each do?
- A: There are two different addresses to use with our list.
The first address is the one you send mail to, to get it sent to the
list. DO NOT SEND MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SUBSCRIBED
TO THE LIST! You're mail will not go through! That address is for use
by current members only. If you have not subscribed, and received a welcome/intro letter, you are NOT a current listmember. When you do
get subscribed to the list, and receive the intro letter, it will tell
you the list address, so you will know where to send your list mail.
The other address is majordomo@router.minot.com. It is our
server command address. This address is used for sending in commands,
such as subscribe, unsubscribe, who, info, etc. These are automated
commands, that are instantly taken care of by the automated list.
Some commands require approval by the listowner, and are not instant.
Please, try to keep these two addresses straight! Do not send list
mail to the command address, and do not try to subscribe by sending
mail to the list address
5) Q: What other commands can I use to get more info?
- A: There are a number of commands you can send to the server
command address, to get different information. The best thing you can
do, is send a HELP command to the command address.
Send mail to the command address with the words: help xanth
You will receive a message telling you all the commands you can send
to the majordomo.
6) Q: What do you talk about?
- A: Anything that is related to Xanth or Piers Anthony. We
discuss characters, particular books, plots, writing styles, series,
Piers in general, possible future Xanth directions... many different
things. We often have stories being passed around between members, or
quests, or story posts.
7) Q: Can I pick my own Xanth name/persona,
and if so, how?
- A: Yes! By all means, please do. If you wish to participate
(and we hope you do), please either choose or create a name/persona
that has not already been used. The list of the current
members' Xanth names/personas is posted on our homepage, and is also
viewable in
text version or it can be obtained through email, by writing to
The ListKeeper, and
requesting a copy. (Remember, this information changes constantly, so
the one you get may not be up to date!) After you join us - if you need to - feel free to
ask the Thread members for advice on your new Xanth name... your bio
will help give them ideas. If you want a list of the members on the
list, at any time, simply contact
The Listkeeper.
8) Q: Is there an age limit to join?
- A: No. Anyone who can read and write e-mail can join us.
9) Q: How many members are there?
- A: We started with a small handful of five members and have
grown to an average of over one hundred (100) members currently. This
number fluctuates a little as people come and go.
10) Q: How long has this E-Mail Thread been
around (in existence)?
- A: The Xanth/Piers Anthony E-Mail Thread was born on OctOgre
23, 1995. It has been growing steadily since then. We have seen many
members come and go, and have seen a change in ListKeepers, but the
list lives on, and will hopefully continue to do so, for some time.
11) Q: What do I do if some of my mail not go through?
- A: If you ever have a problem with your mail not going
through to the list, the first thing you should do is to notify the
listkeeper. It could be any number of problems which are causing your
mail to not go through. The listkeeper will find out what is causing
the problem, and get back to you. Please let the listkeeper know
*exactly* what is going on. If you are getting any error messages,
forward them to the listkeeper. The more specific you are in
explaining the problem, the easier it will be to find the solution.
12) Q: Can I say whatever I want to, no
matter if it includes profanity, and references to nudity and/or
sex?
- A: In a word - NO! The Adult Conspiracy is to be protected at
all costs on this Thread - at all times - by all members!! If you are
still new to Xanth, and are unfamiliar with the adult conspiracy, it
simply says that children should be kept from certain information
until they are of adult age. This includes using profanity (cursing),
or discussing how to "summon the stork" (talking about sexual issues).
We have members as young as 10 years of age, and we must keep them in
mind.
13) Q: Can I possibly send out, or receive,
through the thread, xanth materials, such as a copy of the Companions of
Xanth game?
- A: Definitely not!!! Any copying and/or distribution of
copyrighted materials, without explicit consent, is *against the law*
and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED ON THIS THREAD. The Companions of Xanth game,
as well as Piers Anthony's books, the cover art from those books, and
other related materials, are all copyrighted materials. They are
protected by law from reproduction and distribution, without consent.
Any such activities are an illegal act, and are equivalent to stealing
profit from Piers Anthony and Legends Entertainment (the company that
created Companions of Xanth), as well as others, such as the cover
artists. This thread does not allow any and all such activities, and
any member involved in any of the aforementioned will be kicked off
the list, and their activities reported to Legends Entertainment.
14) Q. How much of my time will this thread
take?
- A. That depends on how much time you have to give. A little
or a lot. It's whatever you want to make of it. We do produce quite a
lot of mail, so consider that, when considering how much time we take.
You do not have to write to the list, or participate in all of the
conversations, but you will have to take care of your mail, and this
can be quite a chore for some folks (like me!).
15) Q. What if I'm a new user? How friendly
and tolerant of little mistakes are you?
- A.Most of the members of this thread are generally very
tolerant of others' mistakes. We are all human, and all make mistakes.
We do have a rule of mutual respect, so others are expected to be
accepting of minor mishaps. However, to avoid making *big* mistakes,
be sure to read this entire FAQ, and pay attention to the things you
are NOT allowed to do. And remember them!
16) Q. Do I have to type in English? What
if I only speak broken English?
- A. Yes, you need to type in English. But, it does not have to
be perfect. As long as you can get your point across and understood,
broken English is no problem. However, it is recommended that
everything be typed in some form of the English language. .
17) Q. Are there people from countries
besides the U.S. on this thread?
- A. Yes. We have had members from many of the United States,
as well as Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and
Sweden, just to name a few.
18) Q. Are there cliques or favoritism on
this thread?
- A. Favoritism is not tolerated well and is avoided on this
thread... however, cliques can happen anywhere, anytime. These are
usually unavoidable, but currently we don't have any "little cliques".
Of course, you can expect to form friendships with some of the people
you meet here, which will take you far and beyond this actual thread.
That is what is so wonderful about the XanThread. Meeting people with
similar interests!
19) Q. Is there a limit to the number of
people on this thread?
- A. Currently, no. We have previously hit the 200 member mark,
and will likely go beyond. Until people start to complain, we will
continue to allow new members. This may be necessary for discussion
between thread members in the future, if the list grows too big.
20) Q. How strict are you about staying on the
subject?
- A. We pretty much prefer to remain on subject or at least
near it. This list was created with the purpose of discussing Piers
Anthony, and the Xanth series in particular. Remember why we are here.
We do try to keep things a bit open. HOWEVER we do NOT like to get
into periods of complete non xanth discussion. If you begin to notice
a thread of conversation that is non xanth related, try to take it
into private mail so that you will not occupy the thread with non
xanth related material. Also, unrelated mail such as jokes, and
forwarded messages, will not be tolerated.
21) Q. Can I send posts which I feel are
important, but are not in any way related to Xanth or Piers Anthony?
- A. In a word, NO. We have had far too much trouble in this
area. However, if you feel that your message is important, and is
relevant to the members, and if it is not lengthy, you may send a
post to the listmembers, with the NXC in the subject line, asking for
anyone who is interested in receiving your post, to reply to you in
private E-mail. Keep these rules of thumb in mind. If the post is
lengthy, DO NOT send it to the group. If it falls into one of the
following categories, DO NOT send it: attached files, ascii art,
petitions, promotions, jokes and stories, advertisements, etc. If it
has a large amount of names, from obviously being forwarded many
times, it is likely to be a chain letter. DO NOT SEND CHAIN LETTERS.
This will be discussed more later. Please use your best judgement,
and moderation. Do not just send out just anything, and remember
*When In Doubt, Ask!* Just mail me, and ask me if your post is
acceptable. I will tell you what action to take.
22) Q. Do I have to have read all the Xanth
novels to join the thread?
- A. Absolutely not. But it would help if you've read or are
currently reading at least one of them. :)
23) Q. Can I send (binary) attached files
to the people on the list?
- A. ***NO!!*** You *may* send them to some of the listmembers
through Private email, ***ONLY*** if the person on the receiving end
has been informed and given permission. DO NOT just send them out
randomly, and do not send them out to the entire list! Again, send a
letter asking for anyone interested in receiving your attachment to
respond to ou privately. Sending attached files, especially binary
files, can cause all kinds of problems with incompatible software AND
hardware!
24) Q. Can I send chain letters to this
thread to get them forwarded?
- A. This is a Xanth/Piers Anthony Thread
and such things are not only discouraged, but NOT ALLOWED! How do you
know if it is a chain mail... Does it have a large number of email
addresses in the text, showing that it has been forwarded many times?
Does it, anywhere in the message, tell you to forward the message to
as many people as you can? Does it say something bad will happen if
you don't, or good things will happen if you do? Does the subject
line say "This is not a chain letter"? These are all clues that your
letter *IS* a chain letter. Even if your post seems to have good
intentions, any mail asking to be forwarding to as many people as
possible is not a good thing. It simply clogs people's email programs,
unnecessarily. DO NOT SEND CHAIN MAIL TO THE LIST. You will be removed
from the list, if you do. Again, if you are unsure, check your message
with the listkeeper. Do not take the chance of being removed from the
list! This is your only warning. Sending chain mail constitutes
immediate removal from the list!!!!
25) Q: Is Spamming allowed on the
thread?
- A: No! This question reflects other questions regarding
staying on subject, and sending chain mail and/or attached files.
Spamming, in short, is sending completely off subject, unrelated,
often large posts to the group. Chain Letters, long jokes or stories,
make money fast schemes, and job promotions/advertisements are all
examples of what would be considered "Spam". Anything unrelated to the
thread would be, in a sense, considered spam. This thread was created
to allow people to discuss Piers Anthony, and his writings, especially
his Xanth novels. Unnecessary, extremely unrelated posts are not
allowed. Some exceptions are made, but we do not allow members to
send in anything they find interesting or amusing. When In Doubt, ASK!
26) Q. How much mail does the list
produce?
- A. It is hard to give a simple answer to this question.
Sometimes the list is slow, and there is not a lot of mail, but be
forewarned! When we get some hot topics, we can produce A LOT of mail.
We can receive up to fifty pieces of mail per day, on a good day! That
is quite a bit of mail. Please think about this before joining. If you
can't handle that much mail, than please don't join. You will just end
up quitting later.
27) Q. Is "lurking" allowed?
- A. We have a lot of members on our list and many of them are
too busy to write to the list with any regularity. "Lurking" means
being a member of a list, and reading posts but not posting messages,
and it is common on many E-mail lists. We welcome all members, who
are truly interested, and we do not require you to post to the list
with regularity. In short, yes.
28) Q: Is "flaming" allowed?
- A: No! Flaming is a derogatory type of complaining or yelling
at another person. This type of activity is not allowed on the thread.
If any problems or disagreements arise between thread members, they
should either be taken up with the list keeper, or resolved privately,
in a polite manner. Thread members are expected to treat one another
with respect and understanding at all times. If you cannot do so, you
are unwelcome here. Anyone flaming will be removed from the thread.
29) Q. What is this "NXC" in the Subject
lines all about?
- A. "NXC" stands for "Non-Xanth Content",
for when you are posting something off-topic. That would be anything that has nothing
to do with Piers Anthony(PA) or Xanth. Using the acronym NXC does NOT
give you the freedom to say anything on the thread. PLEASE REMEMBER we
are the xanth thread, and try to stick to the subject. If it is off
subject, keep it short, and ask that all responses be sent to you
privately, not the entire thread. Try to use your best judgement, and
if you are unsure about the content, send your message to me, with a
note at the top telling me of your concern. I will take a look, and
let you know if it is acceptable or not.
30) Q. Can I talk about other science fiction
writers/books?
- Only in private e-mail between individuals. If you are
interested in starting an off topic conversation, perhaps about some
other science fiction writer, send out an inquiry letter, asking for
anyone who is interested in being involved in the discussion, to
respond to you in private E-mail. Then you can discuss it amongst
only those who reply. If it seems that some off subject topic you
brought up, has sparked a lot of conversation, please make the effort
to take it off the thread, and into private mail.
31) Q. What is the "XT in the Subject lines
all about?
- A. "XT" stands for us, the XanthThread! It is
automatically placed in the subject line, by our automated list, so that
members can identify list mail. This makes it much easier for the thread
members to spot and sort their Xanth mail!
32) Q. What is a spoiler?
- A. A spoiler is a post that has information about one of the
Xanth novels, that may SPOIL the book for someone who has not yet
read it. That means, if you write a post, and talk about how one of
the books ends, you may spoil the ending for someone else. Piers
Anthony has written over 100 books. Not everyone on he list, has read
all of the books. If you are writing to the list about one of the
books, and you have said something that may give away some surprise
information, you need to include the term "Spoiler:", and the book
you are discussing, in the subject line. For example, if you refer to
Dolph's marriage to so-and-so, in Isle of View, you need to write
"Spoiler: Isle of View", as the subject line. You should also, in the
message content of your letter, write the line, "Possible Spoiler:
Isle of View", and then hit return about thirty times or so. This will
leave an amount of blank space at the top of the screen so that if
someone accidentally opens the mail, they still won't read anything
until they scroll down the screen.
33) Q. Can my friend/brother/sister/etc. join
without an e-mail account and just share mine, since s/he is also a big
Xanth fan?
- A. This is okay, as long as you remember to inform the
listkeeper exactly who will be participating in the thread. If there
will be more than one person participating, inform the listkeeper, and
give the names of all the people who want to join. When writing to the
list, ALWAYS sign your name at the bottom of your letter, because if
more than one person is using the account, we need to know who is
doing the talking! Please, however, do not simply allow someone else
to post to the list if they did not join in the proper manner. It
causes a great deal of confusion when a person other than the
listmember posts to the list from your address.
34) Q. What is the Xanthread homepage and how
do I get involved?
- A. The Xanthread homepage is our own turf we have staked out in
Cyberspace. You can visit it at the following URL: http://www.mosquitonet.com/~eteel/xtmain.htm
Currently, one of our listmembers, the lovely Lady Blue is
maintaining our homepage, and she does a beautiful, wonderful job!!! :)
Becoming a member of the list does NOT immediately put your info onto
the page. If you want your bio, e-mail, or photo added to the page, or if
you want to contribute to the page in any way, send mail to the
Lady Blue,
and ask her for more info.
35) Q. What are "Fateful Wishes" and
"The Golden Locks of Hare" and how do I get involved?
- A. "The Golden Locks of Hare" and "Fateful Wishes" are two of
our thread stories. A thread story is a short story being written by
the members of the Xanthread. The story gets passed around between
members, who each add a scene or chapter, creating a story made by
all the members! Both of these stories are available to be viewed at
our homepage. If you would like to be involved in the writing of the
current thread story, the person who is now in charge of its
maintenance is The Lady Blue. For information on writing in the
thread story, send mail to the
The Lady Blue.
36) Q. What are side threads???
- A. A side thread is a group of members from the XT who have
started their own small group, to discuss specific topics, that may
not be related to xanth. For example, we have a side thread called
the Author's Roundtable, who are all writers. A side thread is a way
to find people who are interested in discussing similar topics. It
keeps non xanth material off the main thread, while allowing the
thread members to share interests that may not be about Xanth. If you
want to find out more about the current side threads we have, you can
visit our website, and go to the funstuff link, or you can send a
request to the listkeeper at and she will
send you more information. REMEMBER, that you can always START a side
thread, if you want to discuss off topic subjects! Write to the
listkeeper for more info!
37) Q. Can I use the email addresses of XT members to distribute non xanth mailings?
- A. No! The email addresses of Xanthread Members may NOT be
used for non xanth mailings. If you send mass mailings to thread
members, you will be removed from the list.
38) End notes and links
- That is all. If there is anything you are confused about, or
if you have any questions/comments, please feel free to drop me an
E-mail, and let me know.
cHaMeLeOn...
XANTHREAD list keeper smstoppa@earthlink.net Last edited: 2-23-99
Any problems with this page, please send mail to
cHaMeLeOn, XanThread ListKeeper.
Any problems with any of the other xanth thread web pages E-mail
The Lady Blue (What a gal!)
