Re: Configuration of this list: Reply-To:, acceptance

At 8:44 am +0100 17/12/03, Oliver Betz wrote:
> The important argument is IMHO what you cited from the Mailman docs:
> "...that some posters depend on their own Reply-To: settings to
> convey their valid return address." although I don't know the
> circumstances why one can't set the From: accordingly.

I can think of one that applies directly to mailing lists. Someone 
may subscribe to the list using one address, but want replies to go 
to another address, because:

a) they subscribed address is an old one and they can't be 
bothered/don't wish to subscribe with their new address, but still 
have to POST (From) using the old address

b) they subscribed using a dummy/spamproofed address but want mail to 
go to their real address

c) they post from their work address but want replies to go to their 
home address

d) they use a webmail app such as mali2web, which puts their real POP 
address in the From and their desired 'who I am known as' address in 
the Reply-To

OTOH I hit 'Reply' to your message, spotted it was going to you not 
the list, closed the message, hit cmd-opt-R to Reply-To-All, then had 
to tab back into the 'To' field to remove Oliver Betz so you wouldn't 
get two copies. That's 7 key presses and a whole lot of thinking 
compared to the one brainless key press that I need for all the other 
lists to which I'm subscribed. I have enough thinking to do without 
adding more :(

And I'm not convinced by the 'reply to the sender and let them 
summarise back to the list' argument. Very often a post will go to 
the list, be replied to by several persons and those replies spark 
further replies. Those replies *then* generate further posts, which 
might not have happened if the first round of posts had gone just to 
the original sender. I thought mailing lists were about pooling the 
experience & knowledge of everyone? I'm person A is having a problem, 
person B has probably already solved it, person C is stuck with the 
same problem but has some insight/situation that bears on the matter 
and person D will encounter it in the future. If C posts directly to 
A, and so does B, B doesn't see C's post and can't comment on it, 
answering only A's direct point, not creating a generalised solution 
for when D hits the snag.

John.
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