moderated / unmoderated: Refers to two different ways to run (administrate) a newsgroup or mailing list (or similar).

In an unmoderated list, anyone can write to the list (at any time) and their post is "immediately" distributed (mail list) or made available (news group) to the "members" of the group. ("Immediate" meaning all delays are only those inherent to the physical (electronic) processes of tranferring the message -- these can be significant for various reasons, sometimes including equipment failures or misconfiguration of mail list software.)

In a moderated list, anything that is written to the list goes first to a moderator (a person or persons) who screen the post for acceptability (whatever criteria may exist or be agreed upon) or even possibly edit the post before distributing (or making) it (available).

See AboutThesePages.

Contributors

• RandyKramer - 14 Jan 2002
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