There are many different mailing lists and forums for barbecue and barbecue-related topics.  

As used here, the term "mailing lists" includes normal mailing lists as well as group forums, bulletin boards and newsgroups.  All are methods for members of a group to communicate with one another.  The difference is that, in a mailing list, each individual post or message is sent via email to each subscriber.  When the subscriber downloads email, it includes all the messages from the mailing list.  In a forum, bulletin board, or newsgroup, the messages are not sent to each subscriber but instead are posted to a common site (called the forum, board or newsgroup), which can be accessed by each subscriber.  In practical terms, this means that a subscriber does not get as much email from a forum, board or newsgroup, but, on the other hand, many find it easier to keep up with the mailing list.  In any case, the term "lists" is used to include all these forms.

The most important lists are identified below, with information about their topic, volume, subscribing, and the like.  Please email information about other barbecue and barbecue-related lists, so that this can be kept up to date.

The information about these mailing lists includes:

• Name -- the name of the list
• Topic -- the primary topic of the list
• Public? -- whether the list is public and, if not, a description of eligible subscribers
• Moderated? -- whether the list is moderated and, if so, whether the email is screened
• Volume -- the estimated number of emails per day (note that this number may vary widely from day to day)
• Subscribe -- instructions on how to subscribe
• Information -- a website or other link to obtain further information about the mailing list

Almost all barbecue lists are private and many are moderated, even though the moderators do not usually screen emails.  Nevertheless, anyone who posts spam, flames and the like may be warned or unsubscribed.

California Barbecue Association

This is the official list of the California Barbecue Association (the "cbbqa").  The list is private, but it is open to all cbbqa members, prospective members and those interested in barbecue.

alt.food.barbecue Newsgroup

This list is the primary newsgroup for barbecue.  Most of the subscribers tend to be barbecue novices who are just beginning to learn barbecue, and they are guided by a few veterans from the barbecue community.  The alt.food.barbecue is public and not moderated.  Off topic discussions are rare and are discouraged.

BBQ Judging

The BBQ Judging List is owned and run by Joe O'Connell (this story's writer), an official KCBS Representative and Certified Barbecue Judge.  The list is private and moderated, but it is open to all interested in discussions about issues concerning judging KCBS, MiM, IBCA and other contests.  Barbecue teams and judges should be particularly interested in subscribing.  Off-topic discussions, including discussions of general barbecue that do not concern judging issues, are discouraged.

Outdoor Cooking

The Outdoor Cooking List is owned and run by Stu Carpenter, a well-known and respected barbecue veteran from New York (and the list is sometimes also called Stu Carpenter's Mailing List).  The list is private and moderated, but it is open to all interested in barbecue and outdoor cooking, including recipes.  Friendly off-topic discussions are not discouraged.

Society for Preservation of Traditional Southern Barbecue

This is the official list of The Society for Preservation of Traditional Southern Barbecue, which is run by Dave Lineback (and the list is sometimes also called Dave Lineback's Mailing List).  The list is private and moderated, but it is open to all interested in the traditional barbecue method of cooking directly over wood coals.  Off topic discussions (including discussions of the offset method and barbecue contests), are discouraged.

SongDog's CyberQue Forum

This is SongDog's CyberQue Forum, which is also called SongDog's BBQ Forum.  This is a web-based list oriented (but not exclusively) toward California barbecue.  (Note that this "CyberQue Forum" is not the BBQ Forum, which is the semi-official mailing list of The Kansas City Barbeque Society, described below.)  This list cannot be accessed via email but only via the Internet, so a web browser is required to read and post messages.  Friendly off-topic discussions are not discouraged.

The Kansas City Barbecue Forum

This is the semi-official list of The Kansas City Barbeque Society (and the list is sometimes also called The BBQ Forum Mailing List and Ray Basso's Mailing List).  The list is the oldest barbecue list, having started in 1995.  The list cannot be accessed via email but only via the Internet, so a web browser is required to read and post messages.  Off topic discussions are discouraged.

The Outhouse

The Outhouse List was started and is owned by "The Fat Man®".  This list cultivates a renegade reputation for discussions that are usually about barbecue but that are sometimes outrageous, adult-oriented and off-topic from barbecue.  The list is private and moderated, but it is open to all.  Off topic discussions and the use of adult language and content are not discouraged.

The Smoke Ring

This is the official list of The Smoke Ring, which is run by Garry Howard (and the list is sometimes also called either Garry Howard's Mailing List or the BBQ Porch Mailing List).  This list is in the unofficial successor to Rich Thead's BBQ-Porch Mailing List, which was the leading list for many years until its demise in 1998.  The Smoke Ring list is private and moderated, but it is open to all interested in barbecue.  Off topic discussions are discouraged.