Re: [PATCH] Mailman solution to Cc:s to users on mailing lists

[Roland Mas <lolando@debian.org>]

Ben Gertzfield (2001-08-29 00:41:30 +0900) :

>>>>>> "Roland" == Roland Mas <lolando@debian.org> writes:
>
>     Ben> 1) If the user is on multiple mailing lists that are all in
>     Ben> the To:/Cc:/etc. fields, they will only get one list copy.
>
>     Roland>   Which means they will have holes in all but one
>     Roland> mailing-list.
>
> "Holes"?  What's a hole in a mailing list?

  Holes in the thread.  When browsing the debian-devel folder, I would
miss messages containing direct answers to me because the ML would not
have re-sent it to me.  Example:

[Foo] Blah.
  |- [Me] Re: Blah.
       |- [Bar] Zog (was: Blah)
            |- [Quux] Re: Zog

  If I use your feature, I'll miss Bar's message, because it will be
in another folder, resulting in:

[Foo] Blah.
  |- [Me] Re: Blah.
       |- [Quux] Re: Zog

  Which I consider a Bad Thing.  (I only share this opinion with
people who share it.)

>     Ben> 2) If the user is specifically mentioned in the
>     Ben> To:/Cc:/etc. fields, the list will not send them a copy.
>
>     Roland>   Which means he will see it in his personal folder [...]
>
> There's no possible way a mailing list can control where the mail in
> the To: or Cc: fields goes.  All we can do is try our best not to send
> extra duplicates.  

  The problem is that we kill the wrong duplicate, leaving holes where
they should not be (in my opinion), and leaving unwanted messages
where I don't want them.

> We can't get rid of things that are already sent directly to you; if
> you're mentioned in the To field, wouldn't you WANT it in your
> personal folder?

  The point is not where I would want this message, but rather that I
would prefer it not to be sent To: me at all.  Since this seems not to
be possible (unless we consider using massive head-shrinking, cluebats
or whatever you call the "education" of the users), I'd rather not
settle for a situation that's even worse.  If the message is sent to a
list that I read, I would indeed want it in the appropriate list
folder and not in my personal folder.  Hence my "I won't use your
feature because I consider it a misfeature".

  I'm not declaring a war or anything (as long as you keep your thing
optional and disabled by default :-), just stating my personal
preference.

Roland.
-- 
Roland Mas

Depuis 1977.