This month we are lucky enough to catch TCA list moderator, John Martin, who is just walking out of a building under construction. His day job partly entails the setup and installation of the computer and cable systems in this new building. His company hopes to move into it very soon. We were able to ask a few questions about the TCA Mail List.....
IB: What is the TCA mailist? 

JM: The TCA mail list is a regulated mail "group" that TCA pilots can very simply subscribe and unbscribe to at their convenience. You simply send an email to our Mail List just like any other regular email. The Mail List puts you in touch with many other TCA pilots, most of them regulars on the list (at the moment 130-140 fellows). 

You can ask for assistance on FS and other related issues, listen to advice given to others and share all your experiences with your fellow TCA pilots. It's also a great way to get to know alot of the fellows, and many very strong friendships have evolved from it..:-) It has grown VERY quickly into becoming an excellent way for us to all to get to know each other, become closer as a family, and encourage the sharing of knowledge and experiences in real life and the simulator world. Many TCA Pilots can't imagine life without it!

IB: How do I subscribe and unsubscribe?

JM: That's an easy one :-). You first need to set yourself up with an account over at E-Groups http://www.egroups.com

After that, all you need to do is send an email to <flytradewind-subscribe@egroups.com> and shortly afterwards you'll start receiving the emails that we are all sharing together. It's the greatest thing, really. Unsubscribing just requires that you send another email to <flytradewind-unsubscribe@egroups.com> ...see!..simple :-) 

All of your emails to the mail group go to the following alias (email address) flytradewind@egroups.com. This subscibe/unsubscribe information appears at the bottom of each e-mail you send so you won't forget what address to use if you want to make a change in your status on the list.

IB: Why should someone get involved in the list? 

JM: Apart from the reasons I mentioned above, it's a great way to feel like you truely belong to something " real " in an otherwise simulated existance inside Flight Simulator...and it can be a great learning tool. Some guys are shy about talking to strangers, but they soon get over that when they see just how friendly and warm everyone is to one another, and before long they are really having alot of fun. 

Sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes it's serious as we discuss all manner of things that come up, but if ever there was a way to learn, assuming you were new to the sim world, this is it. Our more experienced pilots are only too happy to help a fellow TCA pilot with anything he might need. Did you know that we (TCA) have some of the most experienced personalities in the FS world!? We are all very proud of that.

IB: Who reads the list?

JM: Anybody can subscribe - even non-members, and occasionally we will get an email from a non member, but that doesn't matter. Everybody is welcome to join in, and we have the added benefit of it being a "moderated" list. It hasn't happened in over a year, but if ever we get some disruptive knucklehead, hell-bent on creating mayhem and just generally being stupid, I can easily ban them from the list - no more "Mr Bad Guy"!. :-)

IB: Can I ask technical questions? 

JM: Sure you can...don't always expect an answer, because none of us knows it all..but usually we can help enough to get that person on the right track. One of the best parts is that with so many people with so much varied experience you get answers with all degrees of technicality. If you don't have a lot of technical knowledge, people will give you simple answers and soon you'll learn more technical aspects of our computing world.

IB: Do the members have a sense of humor? 

JM: Nope...we're a bunch of uptight old fogies!..ahahah..(just kidding) Actually..at times it's bloody hilarious - I mean a total crack-up!! We have alot of fun. It can get serious to, but like most things, it depends on the day and what's been happening to us all.

There is a natural flow in and out of all kinds of goings on. Sometimes it's quiet, loud, funny, serious, but it is always interesting. There is always something worth hearing. 

IB: What are the rules for using the list? 

JM: English Language only please ( but no "foul language") Join in. Have fun. Share, and make friends. Oh and of course...be a friendly fellow, fair minded and understanding of others. 

No attachments are allowed on the list. This way the server isn't overloaded and goes crashing down. If you want to share a file, then you can contact the individual directly through his e-mail address.

IB: As list mediator, what do you do? 

JM:Well..that's a good question. Actually, because the gang is such a good bunch I have to do very little :-)) Occasionally, there may be a disagreement, in which case, I will just try to steer things along a middle road of acceptance. 

Technically speaking, I'm there to make sure everyone gets a fair go and that there is no ill-treatment of anyone. I am empowered to kick anyone off the list permenantly, but that has never been done - just no need to. :-)...So mostly I just enjoy the company of my TCA friends.

JM: In closing let me make a suggestion to the readers. Subscribe to the list for a few weeks and try to get a feel for how it goes. If after that time you feel it's not for you, no hard feelings, and just unsubscribe yourself. 

But give it a try. Perhaps sit quietly on the side and just listen to what's going on from day to day. We chat about all kinds of things and help each other out in MANY different ways. It's the "TCA way" you know..:-)) 

Rick, thanks for the opportunity to chat with you. Good Luck at the new TCA newsletter desk...I'll see you in the skies!. :-)

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