At 7:25 PM -0800 on 11/2/99, Alain Farmer wrote:
>generalCategory - specificCategory - Re ....
>
>for example : "Guidelines - Threads - Re:HeadsUp"
>
>A little bit of extra work here because the "Re", by
>default, goes before intead of after. Sorting by
>subject improves substantially though.
Don't do this! First, there is good chance that you'll f-up the mail
archive's threading. Unlike netnews, we don't have a nice References: line.
Although, come to think of it, the archiver's black magic may be able to
route around this damage.
Second, I can have Eudora group threads, so long as the responses are of
standard subjects. The internet standard is Re: Origonal Subject. And it
makes sense, too. Re means "[in] REsponse to". So, in response to OODL:
Guidelines....
Also, replies which change the subject should metion the old subject:
Internet Standards [was Guidelines on Threads]
This not only helps human readers follow the thread, but so can computer
programs. Not sure if the mail archive software uses this or not.
Lastly, remember that the mail server prefixes all subjects with "OODL:",
except for those beginning with "OODL:" or "Re: OODL:"
In short, I think the best thing is that when one changes the subject of
the message, one should change the subject header as well. And one should
change and metion the old subject.
Also the hierarchial organization of topicality you suggest, IMO, adds
little value yet measurable complexity (how's that for a statement) ;-)
