>At 11:20 AM 2/23/99 -0500, you wrote:
>
>>I've been doing digest-by-default for a few years now and I'm getting
>>far fewer than 10% requesting to switch to individual messages. Like
>>most options it probably has something to do with the clientele and
>>the message volume. I've experimented a little (not much) with MIME
>>but never yet released to anyone but myself. I need to spend some
>>time with the more popular mail readers first to see how they render
>>it.
>
>If people get a digest by default, how do they start and maintain a thread?
> How do they get messages toreply to? This format wouldn't work at all for
>my list, which at times has such hot & heavy discussion that it almost
>resembles a chat room.
Like I said, the preferences for any given list will depend on the
clientele and the message volume. Just because my members like
something doesn't mean yours will. Maybe mine are tea-brewing grannies
and yours are biker gangs. Every list has a different focus. It's
the same reason this whole argument about whether or not to allow HTML
is sheer stupidity. If it works for your list, great. If it doesn't,
great. We're not Microsoft here. We don't all have to be identical.
>We may have to do to a moderated format because of a situation involving
>long and inflammatory posts from one member. For various reasons it would
>be impolitic to unsubscribe him outright. I dread having to deal with any
>more e-mail. How have others of you dealt with this kind of situation.
What some people do is set a flag that allows an address to s*bscribe
(read), but not to post. Posts from that address are re-directed to
the manager/moderator for vetting. That allows the bulk of the list
to remain unmoderated while still keeping some control over the
trouble-makers. Depending on what software you run you may or may not
have this feature.
>I am learning a lot from this list. Thanks.
>
>Nancy Charlton
>Administrator, cslist
>Portland OR
That's (supposed to be) what we're here for. Though sometimes I
have to wonder. :-)
-Mitch
