E-Mail List, Be Gone!How to unsubscribe to an e-mail newsletter or discussion list
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How many times have you subscribed to an e-newsletter or joinedan e-mail discussion list only to discover it really isn't ofinterest to you? Then the challenge is getting taken off thelist.
What's the solution? When you first subscribe, you'reautomatically sent an e-mail greeting that welcomes you to thelist. Save it! You'll have the impulse to toss it right away,but it usually contains information on how to unsubscribe from thelist.
If it's long gone and you're trying to escape, go to theWeb site where you subscribed to the list and find the subscriptioninformation-chances are the unsubscribe information is there.Can't remember where or how you subscribed? Then try toidentify the list "owner" or "moderator." Thisis the person who seems to be in charge of publishing to the listor managing the conversation.
If you're receiving an "announce-only"e-newsletter, you can often just hit "Reply" and e-mailback a missive with only the word "unsubscribe" in thesubject to be unsubscribed because chances are, the e-mail willbounce to the owner.
That won't work if you're on a discussion list, however,because your e-mail will be sent to everyone on the list, soinstead, compose a brief, polite request for information on how tounsubscribe. Some kind soul on the list, or even the owner, willmost likely help take care of you.
Caveat: If you're receiving unsolicited e-mails or"spam." Don't respond to them. Many spam generatorsare automatic, and they're waiting for you to reply so they canverify your e-mail address and send you more.
Aliza Sherman is an entrepreneur and author ofCybergrrl:A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web(Ballantine Books).She is currently working on her next book and new company.
