Subject: Re: Tweeters Default changed?
Date: Jan 06 08:52:26 1998
From: "Rob Conway" - robin_conway at hotmail.com


Tweets -

I had promised myself that I would stay out of this one, but it seems
that things are moving in the wrong direction.

Tweeters is a list server, and the purpose of a list server is to
provide group communications. The default reply-to should be to the
listserver, NOT to the individual who sent the posting. Yes, it may be
a bit inconvenient to get messages intended for individuals every once
in a while, but lighten up, no one here is trying to flood your e-mail
in-box with bad messages, and if you help the folks out who don't seem
to understand how e-mail protocols work with a few kind words and some
simple instructions the practice will largely come to a stop.

The two things that we can all do is to: (1) know our mail client and
(2) pay attention to what we send and where we send it to (thanks Tay
Harrison). Whether you're using Eudora, AOL, Prodigy, Hotmail,
Rocketmail, PINE, or Exchange (among others) there are things you can do
to customize your client to work best for you.

Some clients allow you options under "HEADERS" that will allow you to
see everything from no e-mail header at all to full headers that include
the entire routing of an e-mail message, IP addresses, protocols and
subprotocols, etc. The option that will serve most people in the best
possible way is usually termed "BASIC" or "NORMAL" - this includes
information on DATE & TIME, TO, FROM, SUBJECT and REPLY-TO. All clients
(to my knowledge) include an "address book" option that lets you set up
addresses for those people you reply to most often - SET UP AN ADDRESS
FOR TWEETERS IN YOUR CLIENT, that way you can be sure you respond to the
whole group when you want to. Some clients provide filters - learn to
use them - they can eliminate duplicate messages and weed out mail by
sender, subject, etc...

Most of all pay attention to the address that appears in the TO: field
when you send mail. Don't just push the reply or reply all button and
expect magic. If the TO: address says tweeters at u.washington.edu it is
going to the list server and will go to the whole group; if you intend
it to only go to an individual locate the correct e-mail address (it
should be in the header as discussed above allowing for a copy-paste)
and put it in the field.

The final suggestion is DON'T BEAT UP ON THE LISTSERVER OWNER, that
person is providing his time, computing resources, and skills for this
discussion group FOR FREE. He only makes changes in reaction to
complaints and feedback from the users - he's not trying to confuse you
or sabotage the system. Sometimes it takes a few iterations to get
things right; patience is called for when changes are taking place.

This is a great discussion group, everyone take a deep breath and make a
resolution to learn more about how their e-mail works.

Rob Conway
Bellevue, WA

(formerly Chief Architect for Electronic Commerce, The Boeing Company
and voting member of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and reviewer of
Standard Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) standards and changes - yes I
read the full headers so I know who is doing TWEETERS from work!)

robin_conway at hotmail.com









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