My subscribers prefer a prefix in the subject line to identify the message. The whole
list name is
not needed of course, only initials. I received many requests from subscribers for
this feature. If
they want it, why not?
It lets them know that the message is in fact from my list and is not just a personal
message from
someone.
It also helps them tell which list the message is from, if they belong to several
lists.
Unlike HTML which seems to triple the size of the message, I have yet to experience
any real
downside from having a list identifier in the subject heading.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenneth E. Bannister
President - BANNISTER RESEARCH & CONSULTING
Internet Publisher - GROUNDWATER-DIGEST tm
- WATER SYSTEMS tm
- WELL DRILLING tm
Charter Member - DIGITAL DOWSERS
1897 Middle Road, Bridport, Vermont USA 05734
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.groundwater.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Bernie Cosell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thursday, March 04, 1999 3:48 PM
Subject: Putting the listname on the Subject line
Let in ask, luddite that I am, about another relative-newness that seems
to be a loser and I sure hope dies a worthy death [although since it is
onelist [among others] perpetrating it, as with HTML I suspect
rationality and tradition are doomed]:
Gripe of the day is putting the list-name as a prefix on the subject
line. Majordomo has had the ability to do this for some time, but as far
as I know, virtually every list admin has had the good sense *not* to
enable this. This morning, I got treated to the following:
[Home-Sat] Re: [[Home-Sat] Re: [[Home-Sat] DC Block Splitters]]
(which brings up a more subtle problem of this style of list setup:
if it is gatewayed to usenet [as it is in this case] it is actually
in violation of rfc850:
If the article is submitted in response to another article
(e.g., is a "followup") the default subject should begin
with the four characters "Re: " and the References line is
required. (The user might wish to edit the subject of the
followup, but the default should begin with "Re: ".)
Alas, we didn't have the foresight to make a similar rule for
email...
So, am I just being a luddite, yet again, or should I send complaints to
onelist [although fat lot of good it'll do I suspect]? Would any of you
actually make use of this 'feature' of Majordomo [or another listserv]?
Should we/i suggest to the greatcircle folk to remove it from majordomo
as being a bad idea?
/Bernie\
--
Bernie Cosell Fantasy Farm Fibers
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Pearisburg, VA
--> Too many people, too few sheep <--
