[PIUG List] PIUG-L configuration matters

Alan Engel wrote: "Getting hit with 50+ out-of-the-office messages with each
[PIUG-L] post is a powerful disincentive to posting. The nocall (Northern
California Law Libraries) list has somehow managed to avoid or solve this
problem."

The PIUG Discussion List configuration has two options that we have weighed.
The issue revolves around the "Reply-to" address that comes with each PIUG-L
posting. It is currently set up so that the reply-to address is "the message
sender." Whenever anyone replies to a PIUG-L posting, the response will go
to the sender by default. In addition, out of office messages are
automatically sent back to the original message sender. Alan Engel is
correct. I will get 50+ automatically generated messages after I send this
one. Campaigns to get people to disable such out of office messages
selectively, i.e. not those sent by a discussion lists, have not worked in
the past in any list I have participated in. I just accept that I will do a
bulk delete of such messages when they come back to me.

The alternative configuration is to have the list address as the "reply-to"
address. The problem with this default is that messages occasionally go to
the list by accident rather than to the individual sender as wished by the
"hasty" respondent. Many of us have seen senders follow up on messages with
apologies for sending the message to the whole list. My guess is that the
"nocall" list uses this second option.

I don't think we have an option that is fully satisfactory and we don't want
the configuration to be an impediment to participation. We chose the first
option at the risk of annoying senders every time rather than the second
option that would annoy all recipients and some hasty senders on occasion.
We can change the configuration at any time. Feedback is welcome.

Tom
 
Thomas E. Wolff, Ph. D.
PIUG Webmaster, Discussion List Co-Moderator, and Electronic Communications
Committee Chair
office & fax: +1 630-305-9131 - mobile: +1 630-699-1724
email: <mailto:piugwebmaster_at_gmail.com> piugwebmaster_at_gmail.com










-------------------------------------------
PIUG -- Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary

PIUG Discussion List @ Listbox
List owner: Patent Information Users' Group Inc., http://www.piug.org
List rules and guidelines: http://www.piug.org/list.php
List admins: piug_discussion_list-owner(at)v2(dot)listbox(dot)com

Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=11140452&id_secret=110880373-a9001b


Received on Mon Aug 18 2008 - 18:54:04