[access-uk] Re: Moderators request once more: Subject naming

  • From: "George Bell" <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 21:58:53 +0100

Thank you, Roger.  If only YOU understand my message, it
will have been worth it.

George. 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of roger south
> Sent: 05 September 2005 21:35
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Moderators request once more:
Subject naming
> 
> Hi George and Barry
> 
> I've always wondered what Conversation actually meant in 
> email context. Now after reading the posts today I not
only 
> know but also know how guilty I've been for doing exactly 
> what I'm not supposed to do. I'll remember and in future 
> instead of changing the subject line as I always do I'll
be a 
> good boy and start a new post.
> 
> Roger
> 
> You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "George Bell" <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 8:50 PM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Moderators request once more:
Subject naming
> 
> 
> > For the benefit of those who are wondering what this
thread
> > is all about, (and some of those who do) let my try to
> > explain.  Andrew has mentioned some of what follows, but
I
> > feel that perhaps a simpler explanation might help.
> >
> > (And sorry if this is a long message, but I too have
learned
> > a few new things today about how to manage mail from
e-mail
> > lists.)
> >
> > Most e-mail software packages these days allow you to
sort
> > messages in one way or another.  This might, for
example, be
> > by date received or by sender.
> >
> > However, there are two specific sorting methods which
are of
> > concern here, Subject and what is called either,
"Thread"
> > or, "Conversation".
> >
> > So how do these two work?
> >
> > When you send a completely new message to the list, you
> > (hopefully) include a meaningful Subject.
> >
> > If someone replies to your message, many (but not all)
> > e-mail systems will add additional information to the
reply
> > called a, "Thread-Topic" to the bit of the message you
do
> > not usually see, called the "Header".  This is normally
> > whatever was in the Subject line of the new message you
> > sent.
> >
> > Once this, "Thread-Topic" Header has been added to a
> > message, it essentially CANNOT be changed when you reply
to
> > that message - at least not easily.
> >
> > Someone may change the SUBJECT in a reply to a message,
but
> > that "Thread-Topic" will stay the same.
> >
> > Now in Outlook for example, one of the sorting options
is
> > "Conversation", and it is actually the, "Thread-Topic"
which
> > is used to sort messages.
> >
> > But Outlook also includes a sort by, "Subject".
> >
> > So why have these two sorts, "Subject" and
"Conversation" or
> > "Thread"?
> >
> > I'm afraid it's one of these things that was probably
> > decided by Internet boffins way back.
> >
> > Let's say you start a new conversation or thread,
> > "Supermarket Web Pages", asking if anyone has any views
on
> > them.
> >
> > One person might reply, and leave the Subject as is.
> >
> > Someone else might reply, and change the subject to,
> > "Tesco's Web Site".
> >
> > Another may reply, and change the subject to,
"Morrison's
> > Web Site".
> >
> > If you have your mail sorted by Conversation or Thread,
all
> > four messages above will be grouped together.
> >
> > If you have your messages sorted by Subject, you will
get
> > THREE groups of messages.
> >
> > Are you following me so far?
> >
> > So then I jump in, and reply to ANY of the above
messages,
> > and change the subject to, shall we say, "Internet
Banking".
> >
> > That's fine for those who have sorted by Subject, but
for
> > those who have sorted by Conversation, or Thread, they
now
> > find a message about "Internet Banking" in amongst the
> > "Supermarket Web Pages" messages.
> >
> > So the bottom line is that we are asking, as nicely as
> > possible, if you would spare a minute to think about
this
> > when you are posting to the list.
> >
> > Are you really replying to the Subject, or are you
starting
> > a new conversation or thread?  If it's NEW, please hit
the
> > NEW button instead of REPLY.
> >
> > If you have got this far - thank you.
> >
> > If you have any specific questions, I'll try to answer
them
> > as best I can.
> >
> > George bell.
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> > **
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> > 
> 
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> 
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