Due South Online Groups
As of July 01, 2005

Due SOUTH and its cast have spawned a plethora of general mailing lists, message boards and clubs. Basic common sense applies to joining and participating in these lists: behave politely, don't YELL (post in all caps), do not post fiction (unless specifically allowed), do not post attachments (binaries, graphics), or SPAM (junk mail), etc.

Because of the ever-changing world of mailing lists, owners and rules, just the basics are listed here - Name of list, URL, and if known, how active it is. Please check out the URLs listed with each list / club for more detailed information. Most web-based lists give you all the information you could desire before you even join. Subscription information (how to join and unsub) are listed on all the web sites; Other Internet lists will send you instructions, which you need to save, just in case...

And if you're confused by the initials like OFM and CKR, please check out our Acronyms page. For commonly used terms used by some of these groups, see below.

NOTE: Unless otherwise specifically stated otherwise, all clubs / mailing lists are unofficial.

Fan Clubs | Forums / Message Boards | Mailing Lists | NewsGroups

Fan Clubs

Forums / Message Boards

Forums and Message Boards work a lot like mailing lists, except instead of messages being transferred by E-mail, everyone goes to a common website to read and post their thoughts. Message boards are often broken out into several forums where specific topics are discussed. Important information is often 'stickyed' at the top of the forum so that it does not disappear from the first page.

Mailing Lists

Mailing lists work via E-mail. You send messages to a central mail server which then distributes it to everyone who belongs to the list.

Newsgroups

Newsgroups are great for fans who, for whatever reason, can't join a discussion list, but who want to discuss Due South or keep abreast of any news. You will need some sort of news reader (often included with most browsers) in order to read these messages.

Common Terms

Cross-posting

Cross-posting occurs when you send a post to more than one newsgroup at the same time.

Flaming

Flaming occurs when you launch an attack on one or more people. Flames are usually very personal in nature and often include name calling, belittling another's opinion, and accusing them of doing things that they may not have done. In real-life terms, flaming can be compared to an argument where you will say anything to try and win your side.

Spamming

Spamming in the Newsgroups is the same as spamming in E-mail. Chain letters, hoax virus warnings, and advertisements for products or services are usually considered spam in discussion newsgroups such as the Due South ones listed above. Cross-posting information to several different newsgroups can also be considered spamming when the information has nothing to do with the subject matter of that group.

Trolling

Trolling is making certain comments, which on the surface appear to be innocent, but are actually designed to provoke a response from someone else on the group. For example, if you have information about a certain subject that hasn't been made available on the newsgroup and you know that someone else in the group has that information too, you may send a post which contains indirect comments about the material in the hopes that the other person will respond with everything they know. Trolling is a fishing term where you drag bait through the water in the hopes that a fish will go after it. Likewise, when a person responds to a trolling post, they are said to be "taking the bait."

Back to William & Elyse's Due South Page

Copyright 1997-2006 by William Rydbom and Elyse Dickenson on original text and layout.
This page may be reprinted for personal reading use only.
Any other uses of this page are strictly prohibited without the specific written consent of the authors.
Listing of mailing lists/fan clubs does not imply endorsement, and is for informational purposes only.