This default List Type is used for public forums that allow anyone to subscribe and post. Lists based on this type allow the public to post messages directly to the list, and accept ezmlm address commands such as subscription requests and archive retrieval requests from public users.

Because this type of list is completely public and unmoderated, control over the content of postings is limited to whatever screening is enforced for all incoming email (e.g., screening out viruses, obvious spam and possibly messages that contain bad words). If your organization sponsors mailing lists based on this List Type, be sure that virus-scanning and spam-filtering are enabled on these lists or posts from legitimate list users will soon drown in a sea of spam. Unfortunately, it is difficult to maintain wide-open lists like this for long because it is only a matter of time before spammers and other list abusers discover its existence. When this happens, the organization may choose to switch the mailing list to a List Type that requires users to subscribe in order to post (i.e., Closed Private Discussion) or moderates all posts (i.e., Moderated Public Discussion).

This List Type uses the -MU combination in the ezmlm-make argument string so that everyone can post messages directly to the mailing list unless the sender is on the Deny Subscriber List.

This is a public List Type, so it accepts email subscription commands from the public and is likely to serve a large subscribership. Lists that accept public subscription requests and are the most common and basic List Types. Because the list is open to public subscription, it wouldn't do any good to use a restrictive Web Availability setting.

Even though this is a public List Type, only subscribers can retrieve archives via email. Your organization allow the public to visit Web archives on customized public pages or make them available only on protected areas of the website or decide not to maintain any Web archives, especially if this is an informal, temporary discussion list.