A Plea: Topics & Threads

Randall R Schulz

23 Aug 2004 23 Aug '04

16:09

Hi, I'm noticing an appalling number of posts on new topics that are being sent as replies to earlier posts. This is a poor practice and for those with mail readers that support topic threading, makes that feature much less useful. Please! When you're starting a new topic, post a new message, DO NOT USE REPLY! (Sorry for the shouting, but this is rapidly becoming my new pet peeve.) For those using KMail, there's a way to repair messages that are sent as inappropriate replies: 1) Create a new filter (I call mine "Sever Reply Links"). 2) Match any of these conditions: 2a) In-Reply-To matches regular expression "." (exclude the quotes) 2b) References matches regular expression "." 3) Filter Actions: 3a) Remove Header In-Reply-To 3b) Remove Header References 4) Make sure all "Apply" options are *dis*abled. 5) Add the filter to the Apply Filter menu Now when you get one of these "replies" that is really the beginning of a new topic, you can move it to the top of the thread hierarchy by applying this filter. Randall Schulz

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Patrick Shanahan

23 Aug 23 Aug

16:28

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

* Randall R Schulz [08-23-04 11:09]:

...

I'm noticing an appalling number of posts on new topics that are being sent as replies to earlier posts.

This is a poor practice and for those with mail readers that support topic threading, makes that feature much less useful.

Please! When you're starting a new topic, post a new message, DO NOT USE REPLY! (Sorry for the shouting, but this is rapidly becoming my new pet peeve.)

For those using KMail, there's a way to repair messages that are sent as inappropriate replies:

.... A quicker and perhaps simpler solution applicable to kmain and other mail clients might be editing the headers and removing the following lines (completely): References: <412A.......> <........> <...........> In-Reply-To: <2004082.....@.....> And, PLEASE, even if *you* must top-quote, remove all the quoted material except that which is needed to maintain the subject train of thought. The quoting of more than the last post is *seldom* necessary. The Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing-List. http://www.dhaller.de/linux/etiquette-e.html -- Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535 http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/photos

Randall R Schulz

16:35

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

Patrick, On Monday 23 August 2004 09:28, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

* Randall R Schulz [08-23-04 11:09]:

...
...

For those using KMail, there's a way to repair messages that are sent as inappropriate replies:

....

A quicker and perhaps simpler solution applicable to kmain and other mail clients might be editing the headers and removing the following lines (completely):

References: <412A.......> <........> <...........> In-Reply-To: <2004082.....@.....>

How is that either quicker or simpler than applying a filter? In fact, how do you edit an existing message in KMail? I know Eudora supports it, but does KMail? I can't find the way, but if it exists, I'd like to know about it.

...

...

The Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing-List. http://www.dhaller.de/linux/etiquette-e.html

-- Patrick Shanahan

Randall Schulz

Patrick Shanahan

18:13

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

* Randall R Schulz [08-23-04 11:39]:

...

How is that either quicker or simpler than applying a filter? In fact, how do you edit an existing message in KMail? I know Eudora supports it, but does KMail? I can't find the way, but if it exists, I'd like to know about it.

There is/was an option under 'Edit' which allowed editing the current message <T>. If it is no longer there, I do not know. I use mutt which sucks but sucks less than other email clients, by definition. -- Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535 http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/photos

Randall R Schulz

18:25

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

Patrick, On Monday 23 August 2004 11:13, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

* Randall R Schulz [08-23-04 11:39]:

...
How is that either quicker or simpler than applying a filter? In fact, how do you edit an existing message in KMail? I know Eudora supports it, but does KMail? I can't find the way, but if it exists, I'd like to know about it.

There is/was an option under 'Edit' which allowed editing the current message <T>. If it is no longer there, I do not know. I use mutt which sucks but sucks less than other email clients, by definition.

That command exists, but it applies only to messages in the drafts folder. So the filter I gave is not only convenient, but apart from filtering through an external command, is the only way to remove spurious In-Reply-To and Referrer headers.

...

-- Patrick Shanahan

Randall Schulz

David Robertson

16:46

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

...

The Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing-List. http://www.dhaller.de/linux/etiquette-e.html

Well, I'm relieved that its OK to post in English, since this is the suse-linux-e list! My German is a bit rusty now........... David

Patrick Shanahan

18:09

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

* David Robertson [08-23-04 11:46]:

...

...
The Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing-List. http://www.dhaller.de/linux/etiquette-e.html

Well, I'm relieved that its OK to post in English, since this is the suse-linux-e list! My German is a bit rusty now...........

I believe that, if you would bother to look, you will find that it is not in German. I guess it is a good feeling relieving, emptying your bladder. -- Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535 http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/photos

David Robertson

18:28

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

...

* David Robertson [08-23-04 11:46]:

...
...
The Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing-List. http://www.dhaller.de/linux/etiquette-e.html

Well, I'm relieved that its OK to post in English, since this is the suse-linux-e list! My German is a bit rusty now...........

I believe that, if you would bother to look, you will find that it is not in German. I guess it is a good feeling relieving, emptying your bladder.

It was a joke Patrick - you know, humour (or should that be humor?), so there's no need to be offensive. I did "bother" to look - it's the "Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing List," which is primarily a German language list, and it states that it's acceptable to post in English - OK? Since you posted the link, I'm surprised you haven't read it yourself. Life's too short, you know. Have a nice day. David

Patrick Shanahan

18:34

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

* David Robertson [08-23-04 13:28]:

...

It was a joke Patrick - you know, humour (or should that be humor?), so there's no need to be offensive.

went over my head, I guess. The offense was defense, quick-straw.

...

I did "bother" to look - it's the "Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing List," which is primarily a German language list, and it states that it's acceptable to post in English - OK?

Since you posted the link, I'm surprised you haven't read it yourself.

I have read it several times, but, apparently, passed over the acceptability of English posting. ?? interest level ??

...

Life's too short, you know.

And I'm getting to the faaaar end ..... :^) -- Patrick Shanahan Registered Linux User #207535 http://wahoo.no-ip.org @ http://counter.li.org HOG # US1244711 Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/photos

David Robertson

18:49

New subject: OT (Was:Re: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting)

...

* David Robertson [08-23-04 13:28]:

...
It was a joke Patrick - you know, humour (or should that be humor?), so there's no need to be offensive.

went over my head, I guess. The offense was defense, quick-straw.

no problem - we all do it sometimes, me included.

...

...
Life's too short, you know.

And I'm getting to the faaaar end .....

I'm probably not too far behind.......... Regards David

ray canfield

17:55

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads AND Full Quoting

...

And, PLEASE, even if *you* must top-quote, remove all the quoted material except that which is needed to maintain the subject train of thought. The quoting of more than the last post is *seldom* necessary.

The Etiquette of the SuSE-Linux Mailing-List. http://www.dhaller.de/linux/etiquette-e.html

it's been here for years too: http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1855.html -- ray http://www.redrum.org rcanfiel@blade.redrum.org "UNIX _IS_ user friendly, its just picky about who its friends are."

Danny Sauer

17:18

New subject: [SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads

Randall wrote regarding '[SLE] A Plea: Topics & Threads' on Mon, Aug 23 at 11:09:

...

Hi,

I'm noticing an appalling number of posts on new topics that are being sent as replies to earlier posts.

This is a poor practice and for those with mail readers that support topic threading, makes that feature much less useful.

Please! When you're starting a new topic, post a new message, DO NOT USE REPLY! (Sorry for the shouting, but this is rapidly becoming my new pet peeve.)

As a corollary, please also use a mailer that tracks replies properly so that the replies get threaded correctly. :) I suggest mutt. Other MUAs all suck more, and they're harder to run over a remote terminal... --Danny

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participants (5)

Danny Sauer
David Robertson
Patrick Shanahan
Randall R Schulz
ray canfield