Apologies, apologies, and more apologies

[Alex Rudd]

On Mon, 1 Apr 2002 16:04:56 -0500 Richard Robin said:
>So here's my question: is it possible (and is it worth it) to change the
>SEELANGS default so that the reply function aims the mail only to the
>original sender? (Many years ago I used to manage a list where the owner
>could set that default.) Such a change - if it can be done - might save lots
>of embasrassment. people who wanted to post to the list could then add the
>seelangs address.

Richard (and others who might be interested),

Is it possible?  Yes.  The LISTSERV software allows for a lot of
flexibility.

Is it desirable?  My opinion is no, it's not.  SEELANGS is a
discussion list.  The current configuration encourages discussion.

As we've all seen, many list members here spend a lot of time
composing replies to messages posted to the list, some even pulling
books off shelves to share citations and material that would
otherwise be difficult to locate.  Those efforts benefit all of us.
If they're routinely sent only to one person, everyone else loses
out.

Your proposal presupposes that list members intending that their
replies be sent back to the list will take the affirmative action
necessary to address those replies properly.  Given what we've
seen really happens (i.e., people just click on "Reply" and then
"Send"), I think you'd have to agree that wouldn't be the case.

In other words, it's a balancing act.  Mistakes will be made.
The real question is on which side one prefers they be made.  I'd
rather see people err and send personal replies to the list once
in a while, rather than see them always send messages that could
benefit the group to just one person.

What SHOULD be happening here is that SEELANGS list members should
be trying to acquaint themselves with their e-mail programs, such
that they feel comfortable using them and able to prevent the
misaddressed replies we see here sometimes.  That's why we have a
list guideline that addresses the issue.  That's why I often write
off-list to list members who make this particular mistake to point
it out to them.  It's a question of navigating the learning curve,
though, and each of us has his or her own pace.

>BTW, I think that one of the reasons for so many "mistakes" is that many
>mail programs list the SEELANGS original sender by the sender's name in the
>FROM column of an e-mail index. SEELANGS shows up in the TO column.

It doesn't really matter, I think, how a particular e-mail program
displays the contents of a message's mail header.  I believe that
many people, especially those who don't post very frequently to
discussion lists, are simply used to clicking on "Reply" and having
their replies go to the person who wrote the message to which they're
replying.  That's the underlying issue.

(By the way, for those of you who understand how e-mail addressing
works, the SEELANGS list address doesn't just show up in the "To:"
field, but also in the "Sender:" field and the "Reply-to:" field,
but most people choose not to view the full headers of messages in
their e-mailbox.)

My bottom line is this:  Although I appreciate the frustration
caused by misaddressed messages posted to SEELANGS, I don't believe
changing the default "Reply-to:" address from the list's address
to the sender's address is the answer.  In fact, I believe it would
cause even more problems, including a decrease in the value of the
exchanges we see posted to the list, as they would no longer be
posted to the list, at least not in their entirety.

Finally, I will point out that list members can help ameliorate
this problem in three ways:

1) Get familiar with your e-mail program.  Remember to pay close
attention to where your replies are heading before you send them.

2) If you do make a mistake and post a personal reply to the
entire list, do not post a second message to the entire list to
apologize.  Everyone will understand it was an unintentional
mistake, and we won't hold it against you.  Instead, feel free
to write to me off-list at SEELANGS-Request at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU to
make me aware that you realize what you did, and I will refrain
from sending you a reminder of our list guideline.

3) If you're posting a message to SEELANGS and know up front that
replies to your message would be best directed to you directly,
off-list, then you can override the list's default and instruct
LISTSERV to send all replies to your SEELANGS post directly to
you and not to the list.  Accomplishing that is as easy as
inserting your own "Reply-to:," containing your own address, into
the message you submit for distribution.  Most e-mail programs
make this a very easy thing to do.  If you don't know how it's
done, read the program's documentation or ask your local mail
guru.

Note, for example, that I have changed the default "Reply-to:"
address on this post.  It now points back to the list owners'
address.  I've done that on purpose, as I feel you should bother
me with any replies you send, rather than the entire list.  :)

Regards,

- Alex, list owner of SEELANGS    seelangs-request at listserv.cuny.edu
....................................................................
Alex Rudd                ahrjj at cunyvm.cuny.edu            ARS KA2ZOO
{Standard Disclaimer}    http://home.attbi.com/~lists/seelangs/

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