Posting Protocols - Changing the Subject (Was RE: Lone Lake)

[Wes Neuenschwander]

This message thread is a great illustration of what can happen when we get casual about using the handy old "Reply" or "Reply To All" button on our email programs.  As I recall, this discussion started out in response to a question about what to use this time of year at Lone Lake on Whidbey Island, then evolved into a question about hike-in fishing opportunities, which resulted in a suggestion for fishing the Oval Lakes near Winthrop and now has evolved again into a question about the Ice Lakes. 

 

All wonderfully interesting and useful information (heck, I'd never even heard about Oval Lakes or the Ice Lakes before this).  Trouble is, as long as the Subject line continues to read "Re: Lone Lake" it's difficult for folks to follow or find later in the archives. 

 

The fix is simple.  When responding to a message with a suggestion for a new place to fish, or a new way to fish, or other shift in subject, just take a second to edit the subject line to reflect the new subject under discussion.  If you want to show the continuity to the previous thread, then you can include at the end something to show where this new thread came from. 

 

For instance, when the discussion shifted from Lone Lake places to hike-in and fish, the subject line could have been edited to read: 

 

Subject:  Hike In Fishing (Was RE: Lone Lake)

 

and when that question became a suggestion for checking out the Oval Lakes chain, a simple subject edit to:

 

Subject:  Oval Lakes (Was:  Hike-In Fishing)

 

would allow readers interested in hike-in fishing near Winthrop to quickly find the post for future reference. 

 

As it stands now, someone looking for that special message, telling all about how to fish the Oval Lakes, would have to remember it was part of a message thread about "Lone Lake" and then find and wade through the 17 messages under that misleading name.  Simple re-editing of the original subject line would have narrowed the search down to an easy to remember name, with only a couple of posts specifically on the subject of interest. 

 

Proper use of the "Subject:" line is an easy and simple thing to do, and a simple courtesy that makes the great information on this list even more useful and convenient for others. 

 

-Wes

 

 

 

 -----Original Message-----
From: Dan Reynolds [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2001 8:25 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Lone Lake

Hi, are you talking about Ice Lakes?

 

Dan

----- Original Message -----

From: bhtrading

To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Sent: 02/28/2001 9:05:55 PM

Subject: Re: Lone Lake

It's in the twisp river drainage over by Winthrop.  That's the lakes that

came to mind when you first asked about the trip you're planning.  It's a

fairly moderate hike- I think it's 7-8 miles with the last 3 being the part

that goes uphill. Took me about 4 hours.  This is one of my favorite places,

gorgeous country with cutts to 19" ( at least they were 5 years ago)-the

first lake you come to is west oval which has the nicest fish &makes a good

base camp; then you can go on to the other two lakes from there.  I think it

would be a good place for your group.  There is backcast room & the fish are

willing although it's not a slam dunk.  can give you more info if you like.

bill hamilton

----- Original Message -----

From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 10:47 PM

Subject: Re: Lone Lake

 

 

> I'm curious as to where the Oval chain lakes are?

>

 

 

 

 

 

--- Dan Reynolds

--- [EMAIL PROTECTED]

--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.