Nearly everything that a discussion list software and server does could be done by a human. Indeed, that's just how it was done in the days when email first emerged, but before discussion list software showed up. However just because it can be done by hand does not mean anyone wants to do it that way: Mailing list servers relieve a heavy burden from human hands, and in the process discussion lists have become profuse and great ways to implement CRM.

Xianzai provides these two main ways to arrange a discussion list:

• Open discussion: anyone who is a member of the mailing list can submit information to be distributed to the entire group. In this way, a group discussion can take place unfettered by administrative email functions.
  
• Moderated forums: members of the group can email information to be distributed to the entire group, but submissions need to go through an approval process before they are distributed.

Spam protection: number moderating feature virtually eliminates spam. By requiring new members to have their first message approved, you can keep spammers from joining your list just to spam it.
Automatic email addresses: simplified subscribe and unsubscribe email addresses. i.e. join-mylist@xianzai.com.
Failsafe unsubscribing: default message footer contains the member's email address and instructions for unsubscribing. Xianzai automatically recognizes the member and unsubscribes them. No more "get me off this list" messages.
Web interface: makes it easy for people to subscribe, leave and change their settings. Can also search, read and contribute from the web.
Archives (optional): can archive list messages which can be read via the web interface.
Fast text searching: all archives are indexed for fast searching.
Confirmation: new subscriptions can send a "are you sure you want to join" message to confirm their email address, and to ensure someone else did not subscribe that person as a prank.
Protected membership: mailing lists can be set up so that new members must be a) approved by an administrator b) must know the new member password c) can join without approval d) cannot join, the administrator must add them.
Visitors: mailing lists can allow visitors, who can read and search the archives on the web, but who cannot contribute to the group.
Moderating: supports several moderating models. All members can be moderated, selected members can be moderated, selected members can be unmoderated (but everyone else is). You can specify one or several individuals to approve messages.
Number moderating: an option for new members to have their first few messages approved, thereafter they can contribute unmoderated.
Web-based moderating: you can approve or reject batches of messages at a time using the web interface.
Date moderating: can have moderated messages be automatically approved after a given time period.