[mshackelford13]

I think that was meant for people like me. I just have to know what is this "big list" that people bring up. From the ones that have mentioned it, I gather its not a happy place so I would like to avoid it. Just nosy I guess.

Michelle

[scoobs]

Yeah, lots of heated discussions BUT lots of valuable information too. Which was why I was glad to join. However, I was more a "reader" than a "poster". Didn't care to be involved with the nasties on there.

[PackGirl]

The "Big List" is simply a list serve for Guatemalan Adoptions. I personally really enjoy the disuccsions most of the time. There is discussions of politics, older children, agencies and related people, etc. There seems to be a lot of expierence on the list and a lot of discussion is about after the process rather than during the process. It seems to be a good mix of people. Things can get heated but it only makes it interesting.

JMHO

To suscribe send an email to: listserv@listserv.icors.org
In the body of email only put:

subscribe guatemala-adopt firstname lastname

Replace "firstname lastname" above with your real first and
last names. You must supply your real name; the list does not
accept subscriptions with missing, partial, or made-up names.

HTH,

[becky]

The big list is a great place. But you have to be prepared for it. It is a HUGE listserve...2000+ members.

It is a fantastic resource. It has a lot of adoption professionals and a lot of families who have been there and done that.

With all that said...it is also very politically oriented and it has a lot of members who are very opinionated. And you can get a ton of emails every day from the list.

I get it in Digest form...so I get one or two large emails a day. I simply scroll down and read what I want, and ignore the rest!!

[DesertMom]

I get the Big List in digest form and have posted to it a few times. I enjoy the political discussions that don't happen here and also people can openly discuss their experiences with agencies, attornies and facilitators. You can name names over there. Although it doesn't outwardly have the warm, snuggly feeling that goes on over here, I have had private email exchanges with people regarding sensitive issues and they have been extremely kind and helpful.

[carney10]

I get it, but rarely post to it. Some things are very interesting but things can become heated.
I try to read the subject line and determine if it is something that I am interested in if not I delete it.
Lisa

[mshackelford13]

Thank you everyone. Your information has been very helpful and informative as usual. I think I will just stick with out "warm fuzzy" group.

Michelle

[lisamarie8]

Things sometimes do get heated, but the info is so worth it. I get the digest form too.

[Waiting4Celeste]

Michelle -
I personally think that the good definitely outweighs the bad on the "Big List"... almost everything I know about the Guatemalan adoption process, being a parent, dealing with adoption issues, and even who the best agencies are from the Big List.
I would NEVER unsubscribe to it - even after all our children are home - because there is THAT much good info there.
I lurk a lot there, but even when I posted, I only got positive replies. I don't comment on the heated topics though (Circumcision, name changes, religion issues... to name a few).

Give it a shot - in DIGEST form - and see if you like it. You can always unsubscribe if you don't.

[Disneycrazed]

I have received some good info over on the " Big List" But I don't think there is the support that is on this forum.
I enjoy belonging to both. But yes some of the discussions can get pretty heated and sometimes pretty childish.