Re: Gmail again
On Sat, Oct 3, 2009 at 12:46 PM, Brad Rogers <brad@fineby.me.uk> wrote:
> On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 19:19:53 +0300
> "Jari Fredriksson" <jarif@iki.fi> wrote:
> However, on at least one list I'm on, there are people that *insist* on
> only replying privately, not the list. I'm starting to get tired from
> the constant need to redirect my reply to the list. Even adding a
> suitable line in the email doesn't dissuade these people from replying
> privately only.
>
> Maybe I should just killfile them......
Nah, don't do that. Instead send them a blunt reply stating that you
will only respond to messages submitted to the list and asking them to
resubmit their message to the list if they was to see your reply to
it. If you want to be seriously obnoxious you can wax effusive about
how interesting their comments were but use such stilted, formulaic
phrasing that it becomes obvious they are reading a mechanical,
non-responsive response. (C.f. Lou Dobbs' responses to email
submissions).
The sender is the problem, not the message he sent. So make the
message handling his responsibility.
This is based on one of the fundamental principles of good
citizenship, which states that the best way to deal with a bad law is
to enforce it vigorously. This comes with the implication that
enforcing it upon its proponets is often a useful optimization.
In the email situation the best way to deal with bad habits is to make
the person with the bad habits deal with the consequences of their
behavior.
The worst that will happen is that they will adjust their behavior
_toward_you_ alone. Which reduces to the killfile solution excapt
they have to maintain the killing-of-self rather than you having to
maintain the entry in your file.
Good luck (I am certain you will need it ;-)
-- Lee
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