Yesterday, I was criticized for submitting to the PLUG list
an inquiry about a problem that I had with my wife's XP ...
even though I labeled the subject "OT." So, I then wrote
a note to apologize for this breach of etiquette using the
revised subject line: Re: OT re my wife's XP - - - I apologize
To my surprise and dismay, this was followed by a dozen or
so messages that veered _very_ much farther afield than my
original message ... and then that was followed by a new
subject labeled "Re: OT as long as we are digressing tonight"
which meandered even farther afield.
All of this prompted me to think about a possible remedy
to help us all keep this valuable PLUG list better focused
yet still allow for "OT" inquiries in a controlled way that
can be blocked by everyone who wants to avoid them.
Here are my two ideas/suggestions:
#1. Rename subjects when applicable rather than
perpetuating non-fitting subjects.
Is it not true that anyone responding to any subject can,
at any time, simply change the subject line to one that
is more appropriate to the topic? While there could be
a few additional responses that might come through with
the old, inappropriate subject line, changing the subject
line to a more appropriate one would put an end to most
of the commonly long-running discussions that seem now
to be occurring with increasing frequency.
#2. Use "Off Topic" instead of just "OT" in subjects that
are known to be such.
If this convention were to be adopted, then, all who wish
to avoid a flood of such email could simply put in a filter for
any and all emails that carry the words "Off Topic" in the
subject line. Then, at any time, anyone could change the
subject line, as needed, to include the label "Off Topic".
Does this make sense, or is my logic flawed?
----------------------------------------------------
Three examples of coments from three separate
PLUG messages that resulted from my inquiry
about my wife's XP problem:
> > > Has anyone been brave enough to shower?
> > > I'm starting to feel ripe (I skipped shower today).
> > There seems to be a very high amount of scare mongering
> > . . . you MIGHT get a minor sore stomach or the trots.
> The tiniest bit of e coli can go a long way.
---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list -
PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
(text/plain)