The International Society for the Study of Medievalism listserv is designed for persons researching and teaching concepts involving the study of medievalism(s). Calls for proposals, calls for papers, calls for submissions, announcements of books or articles published, obituaries, job openings, and similar invitations and announcements are encouraged. Discussion is also encouraged, regarding anything to do with medievalism studies.
How to Join the Listserv
Send an email to LISTSERV@listserv.kent.edu (NOT to ISSM@listserv.kent.edu). No Subject is needed, and be sure to remove any automatic text, such as your email signature, from the email body. In the email body, put in this command: SUBSCRIBE ISSM.
ISSM ListServ FAQ
ISSM listserv’s “Frequently Asked Questions” will be sent out to all subscribers periodically. It is the same post each time, and is shared as a reminder of information, for subscriber convenience.
1. What is ISSM listserv’s purpose?
The ISSM listserv is designed for persons researching and teaching concepts involving the study of medievalism(s). Calls for proposals, calls for papers, calls for submissions, announcements of books or articles published, job openings, obituaries, and similar invitations and announcements are encouraged. Discussion is also encouraged, regarding anything to do with medievalism studies.
2. I don’t wish to be a part of discussions; what do I do?
- You might consider changing your settings to receive all messages in digest form. Send an email to LISTSERV@listserv.kent.edu (NOT to ISSM@listserv.kent.edu). No Subject is needed, and be sure to remove any automatic text, such as your email signature, from the email body. In the email body, put in the command: SET ISSM DIGEST.
- You might wish to remove your email from the listserv. Send an email to LISTSERV@listserv.kent.edu (NOT to ISSM@listserv.kent.edu). No Subject is needed, and be sure to remove any automatic text, such as your email signature, from the email body. In the email body, put in the command: SIGNOFF ISSM. (NOTE: many announcements are posted on the ISSM website (https://medievalisms.org/), but there is no guarantee that they will all be there.)
3. How do I control my ISSM listserv subscription?
There are a number of things you can do to modify how your subscription to the ISSM listserv is handled. In LISTSERV terms, you can “set” several options that will modify how ISSM listserv mail is sent (or not sent) to you. Here’s the basic method: send mail to LISTSERV@listserv.kent.edu (NOT to ISSM@listserv.kent.edu). No Subject is needed, and be sure to remove any automatic text, such as your email signature, from the email body. In the email body, put in one of the below the commands:
▪ To subscribe to the ISSM listserv, type: SUBSCRIBE ISSM
▪ To remove your email from the ISSM listserv: SIGNOFF ISSM
▪ To stop incoming mail from the ISSM listserv: SET ISSM NOMAIL
▪ To resume incoming mail from the ISSM listserv: SET ISSM MAIL
▪ To receive messages in a digest: SET ISSM DIGEST
▪ To receive messages as they are posted: ISSM NODIGEST
If you have any trouble with these commands, notify Carol Robinson (clrobins@kent.edu).
4. How do I send a message to all the ISSM listserv subscribers?
Simply send an e-mail to ISSM@listserv.kent.edu. You will receive an acknowledgment of your message, including a note informing you
that it has been posted.
5. How do I reply to a message I receive from the ISSM listserv?
Simply hit reply and the message will be posted. You will receive an acknowledgment of your message, including a note informing you that it has been posted. WARNING: this makes it easy to reply to ISSM listserv messages, but it also makes it very simple to mistakenly send personal, private messages to the entire ISSM listserv body, rather than just to the intended single person posting the message.
6. How do I send a private reply to a single person’s message posted via the ISSM listserv?
If you want to send a private message, use your mail system’s FORWARD function or address a new message from scratch.
7. Are there guidelines or limits to the announcements and discussions?
Yes, see below:
- Be self-aware. Be aware that racism, sexism, and discrimination based on religious, ethnic or sexual identity operates unconsciously as well as consciously. Even those dedicated to equality can have such responses.
- No personal attacks. Criticize ideas or actions, not individuals or groups. Avoid name calling, personal attacks, and sarcasm. Also, be aware of the distinction between name calling and analysis.
- Be respectful. Use respectful language, particularly when criticizing concepts, ideas, or scholarship. Mistakes: everyone makes them. Own up to yours without defensiveness; be forgiving of those made by others.
- Assume good intentions. Never attribute to malice what can be attributed to ignorance. Keep in mind that the goal of discussion is not to agree but to gain deeper understanding.
- Control your emotions. Write in full sentences and refrain from using all caps, emoticons, asterisks or other intensifiers. Put statements in a factual and non-accusatory form.
- Maintain confidentiality. Do not share discussions outside the list-serv without the permission of all participants.
Be professional. Do not engage in interpersonal, back and forth arguments about past events or encounters. Take these kinds of interpersonal discussions into a private forum. - Do not police tone. Members should respond to the ideas and evidence presented by fellow discussants, not their tone (i.e. avoid responses such as “I resent your patronizing tone.”).
- No bullying will be tolerated. Bullying is not permitted but please be aware of the distinction between critique and bullying. Bullying involves the exploitation of an imbalance of power with the intent to harm.
- Strongly worded critiques are permitted. Strongly-worded critiques or responses are not bullying; they are not made with the intent to harm or as an exploitation of power.
- Avoid sending personal notes intended for individuals to the entire ISSM listserv.
- Avoid duplicating information. If one person has already responded to a particular question, there is no need for others to respond, unless that person has an alternative answer.
- Avoid sending inordinately long emails.
