Steve Eley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> "|><|" wrote:
> >
> > |How are you filtering email? linart always uses the same Sender: and
> > |To: lines, so it wouldn't be hard to pick up with procmail and ilk.
> >
> > yeah, should really work on To lines.
> > bracketing should be done by listconf rather than ppl posting ...
> > you could also number the postings and filter all odd messages. ;)
>
> On the other hand, what's so hard about modifying the list server to
> prepend a [linart] (or whatever) tag to the Subject: line of each
> messages?
Absolutely nothing. The list is running Majordomo (or at least it was
last I checked, I'd be surprised if Michael somehow snuck something
else under it (^:), and it's pretty trivial to do. I've even done it
before (under different circumstances -- I think it's a much better
choice for a moderated announcement list than a discussion list).
My objection isn't a technical one (at least not in the configuration
sense). Like "Reply-to:", I think subject tags are a poor idea, both
philosophically and from experience. Unlike "Reply-to:", subject tags
are merely an aesthetic annoyance (and neither choice is helped by
lousy MUAs that screw up with or without either "feature"). I would
like to think that on a list with relatively technically savvy readers
that both are unnecessary (although we did ultimately go to
"Reply-to:"), but the problems with either are also substantially
reduced by a technically savvy set of users. For a non-technically
savvy user base, there really is no hope. )^:
On my local astronomy mailing list (rife with unsophisticated users
who post thousand character paragraphs without a newline or in HTML),
I endure without complaint (party because there's absolutely nothing
to be gained by complaining). But on list-managers, I'd be somewhat
shocked if the listowner added "Reply-to:" or a subject tag, and I
think my upset would be justified.
Mind you, I'm no crusader. I've stated my case, and it will happen or
it won't. I don't know if we talked about this when Michael first set
up the list (it's been so long that I don't remember what we talked
about, really), but if he decides to add a subject tag, I won't
complain. I don't believe lists are democracies, nor should they be
-- at the end of the day, the listowner knows best, or if they don't
(because they're new to list management or whatever), they'll figure
it out. When you get right down to it, with the lack of MUA
standardization and an underlying mailing system ultimately held
together with duct tape and bailing wire, there are no easy or
one-size-fits-all answers.
doubt
--
Douglas Triggs -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- "Come, muse, let us sing of rats!"
Sysadmin, Astronomer, (Writer), Programmer, Reader, and Zuul-Fearing American
http://www.lensflare.com/~doubt -- news://news.sff.net/sff.people.doubt
