[chapter-delegates] replying to the list (was: Encouragement and information from today's meeting with Lynn)

[James M Galvin]

--On Tuesday, April 05, 2005 9:27 AM -1100 Richard StClair 
<stclair at niue.nu> wrote:

> Shifting gears for a moment..........can we configure this list so
> that replying to a posting replies back to the list?

Yes and no.  I presume you are suggesting that you want messages to 
have a Reply-to header added as it passes through the list manager.  As 
a configuration option, it is possible to add a Reply-to: header but 
ISOC prefers not to do this on its lists.

Speaking as an email expert, such an option is actively discouraged in 
the email community.  The primary reasons for this are first that it 
does not work in general and two it breaks certain others uses of the 
field.

On the first point, where a reply is directed is entirely under the 
control of the person constructing the reply.  The standards do say 
that a "reply-to" should be used before a "from" which should be used 
before a "sender" when automatically constructing recipients, but you 
can do what you want when replying and some email clients get this 
wrong.

One the second point, if an originator of a message uses the reply-to 
to indicate their preferred email address, this information is lost if 
the list manager changes the reply-to field.  This can be really bad.

Even with those reasons, a lot depends on the subscriber community. 
There are many lists that choose this option and it works for their 
subscribers.  When it works and everyone likes it then it is fine.

As far as this list is concerned, personally I discourage use of the 
option.  However, if that is how the majority of the subscribers want 
the list configured, then that is what we will do.  Majority, by the 
way, is quite a lot.  There are 307 subscribers on this mailing list.

I am willing to collect preferences, unless you would prefer to do it. 
Shall we conduct a "poll" and, if so, do you want to do it or shall I?

Jim