Although I can understand the potential for people who only follow a couple
of topics with threaded readers to miss some posts with modified subject
lines, I really don't see this as a big issue. Most threads dominate the
postings for their lifetime, but threads evolve too, and after a while the
original subject line is no longer fully descriptive. As for tracing back to
the original posting, if the post includes just the relevant part that
should be sufficient.
And in keeping with the evolutionary nature of threads, I would add my own
mild complaint - replying not only to the list, but to the poster as well.
This means that the person who posts gets two copies of every reply, but
this can lead to confusion for everyone, since it unsyncs the postings.
Suppose that you reply to this post with messages to both me and the list. I
get the personal reply first, and respond to both you and the list. Unlss
David is very diligent about the order that items go out, list members may
receive a response before they see the message to which the response is
sent. This happens sometimes on this list, but it is quite common on
unmoderated lists where longer messages may take longer to get circulated.
Since presumably the people who post to the list also read the list, there
is no need to include them in the reply, just send it to the list please.
Bill Silvert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne Tyson" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 9:32 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Listserv posting and email subject line additions Ecolog
Ecolog:
I received the following message from a listserv subscriber who wishes to
remain anonymous:
"I know people have asked before and you have dismissed it, but I find
your changing of seemingly every subject line annoying and
presumptuous. In this case, what was gained by changing the subject
line? It made referencing back the original email more difficult."
. . . and in later message: "PS This is a personal message and I would
appreciate it not being
forwarded to the whole list.
Thanks,"
[Name withheld at sender's request]]
