Over the past few days I have received over 50 emails from an internet service provider (ISP) advising me that the recipient's mail box is full and that I shouldn't send him/her any more email. That would be fine (and, indeed, the list server software would normally take care of this automatically) except that the recipient is NOT A LIST SUBSCRIBER and therefore the list server doesn't who the offending party is! What seems to be happening here - and what has happened in the past - is that a valid list subscriber has set up his email system to automatically forward list messages to another email address, someone who is not a list subscriber. Sometimes this is another email address the list subscriber uses; sometimes it's a friend or even an email distribution list. The result is the same: Bounced email from the forwarded addresses end up generating error messages that route back to the list server and pile up in my list administrator mail box! This is an issue that has come up periodically in the past, but not frequently enough that I thought it worth mentioning. Unfortunately, when it does come up it can be a real pain to deal with since the source of the error messages can be so difficult to find. Sometimes the ISP who has been generating the error messages is cooperative and we can track down the source (the list subscriber who has been doing the forwarding). Sometimes (more the rule rather than the exception, unfortunately) they ignore my requests for assistance in resolving the problem and the error messages keep coming. In one instance I received over 700 error messages before I was able to get the problem straightened out! So here's what I'm asking: PLEASE, DONT' FORWARD LIST EMAIL! There is, at least generally, no good reason to do so. Anyone can subscribe directly to the list, without having to rely on someone else's forwarding the messages to him/her. They will receive the message quicker and with less confusion since the message headers will be more accurate. And - should problems arise - the email list software can deal with the problem more efficiently, and likely without my intervention! If it is, however, absolutely necessary that list email be forwarded, drop me an email letting me know that you've set the forwarding up and provide me a list of the forwarded to addresses. That way when I get a message of mysterious email error messages, I can track the problem down without undue time and effort. Thanks for your cooperation in keeping things working smoothly at Waflyfishers! -Wes Wes Neuenschwander Seattle, WA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
