John, I see what you're getting at. In recent occurrences I know that the message was sent *to all* jaws-users, even if a person was referred to in the subject line. Accurate and concisely descriptive subject lines are better for everybody, including the senders. Might I suggest also that many how-to answers with JAWS can be found in the comprehensive array of topics dealt with in the JAWS Help system. Anybody who asks for help on how they can use JAWS Help will get it from the list.
----- Original Message ----- From: "John Justice" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 11:25 PM Subject: [JAWS-Users] PERSONAL MESSAGES ON A TECHNICAL LIST Now, how do I put this in a way that makes my point clear without putting anyone's knickers in a bunch. Until recently, , every message shown on this list was for the use of all of its members. If someone had an idea or a suggestion, the message would be posted with that information and only that information in the subject line. That made it a great deal easier to choose the ones needed and discard those that didn't address a particular problem. Unlike many general list servers, I believe that the primary purpose of this group is to share information about a particular topic with all of its participants. Recently, especially with some of the newer members, I have seen messages directed to an individual rather than ones which were posted for the edification of all. There might be someone on this list who is indeed having a unique problem but when a certain person's name is included, it is my tendency to delete that message since I am not Alexander or Roberta. Maybe it's old fashioned of me but I feel as if I'm prying if I read a message which is specifically intended for an individual. Wouldn't it be better if such messages were sent off list? Although, probably in the interest of staying within the group's guide lines, these messages do contain a reference to the particular problem at hand, they are often mostly personal messages with one or 2 lines dealing with the appropriate topic. That isn't a crime but it has rarely been done here. I believe that it sets up a trend which could result in a large volume of posts which masquerade themselves as being on a related topic but, when opened, have very little to do with Jaws, Outlook Express or any other related software issue. This list, as I understand it, is not a social club or a lonely hearts organization. There are hundreds of lists on Yahoo which provide that service admirably. I yield to the better judgment of our moderators in this situation but I will state right here, if this list becomes a clearing house for poorly disguised personal messages, then it will no longer be of any use to me. I realize that a name might be recognized which hasn't been seen in years. That is a marvelous development. A breif statement saying, Hey Priscilla, do you remember me? Write me off list. My e-mail is: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'm sure no one would mind that at all. But when you find more than 12 messages, all directed to an individual, that is too much. Finally, if the moderators took the time to read some of these messages, they would find, as I did, that most of the content has nothing to do with the list's stated purpose. Thank you all for your time and patience. Diplomacy is an art, rarely practiced well and even more rarely understood. John Justice PERSONAL E-MAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] My job feeds my family, music feeds my soul. Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/jaws-users-list(not known now) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following form in order to contact the management team http://www.jaws-users.com/managers.php Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/jaws-users-list(not known now) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following form in order to contact the management team http://www.jaws-users.com/managers.php
