--On Monday, November 02, 2009 12:13:59 PM -0800 "James E. Lang" <[email protected]>
wrote:
--On Sunday, November 01, 2009 10:11:27 AM -0600 Barbara Duprey
<[email protected]> wrote:
Just a thought -- there is a link that can be provided into the archives for
a particular thread. What if either (in order of preference) the list
manager, a moderator, or anybody on the list who knows how, sent a message to
the unsubscribed poster containing that link? The poster would not have to
subscribe (thereby getting what could potentially be a dismaying number of
messages -- and often leading to a "please unsubscribe me" message). Yet
they'd be able to follow the discussion, wouldn't they, to see any responses
on the thread?
I don't know if it is doable to send an automatic reply to anyone who starts
a new thread saying, "http://... can be used to monitor this message and its
responses." An alternative would be to only send this message to those who
are unsubscribed at the time they start the new thread. This is a short and
sweet message and if it can be automated it will place little burden on any
person or resource.
Another thought: Add to the short automated message I described above something
like this: "This is a high volume (an average at present of about 1 message per
hour) mailing list to enable users of OpenOffice.org to help each other. You
may sample its archives at http://... to determine whether you are interested
in joining it. If you want to join it then go to http://... and fill out the
application." Make the links as specific as possible and above all, KEEP THE
MESSAGE SHORT and to the point (pardon the shout).
I don't know what capabilities the list software possesses to create the type
of automated message that I am proposing but if it is within the reach of the
technology then I believe that it would be to everyone's advantage to implement
something along these lines.
Slightly off this thread's topic: The relatively high volume of messages on
this list would be reduced considerably if people did not feel trapped on the
list and that problem is precisely what this thread is attempting to address.
People who feel trapped on the list repeatedly pound on the list to get
themselves off while _some_ of the more knowledgeable consider them to be
idiots who couldn't find their own mouths to feed themselves and make a
definite point of telling them so.
One more thought on this slightly divergent topic: When responding to the
people who feel trapped on the list I think that we should send our response to
them off list rather than clutter the list with more of the spitting contests.
Maybe the first person to respond could copy the list indicating that he/she
will take responsibility to guide the trapped person in finding his/her way off
the list and then try to be tactful in helping the person.
--
Jim
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