Re: [Evolution] Non-subscribers - Was: Performance Issues

[Ralf Mardorf <silver bullet zoho com>]

On Thu, 26 May 2016 13:50:26 +0100, Pete Biggs wrote:
> A question for the moderators: do you get many creationist nuts who
> mistake the purpose of this list? (That alone is sufficient reason to
> keep to subscribers only!)

Assumed an experienced Linux user doing some research randomly notice
an unanswered request in a mailing list archive, of a list this user
isn't subscribed too, then the advantage of open or half-open mailing
lists is, that this user could provide help, without the need to
subscribe.

It makes sense to allow only subscribers, to post to mailing lists that
are highly specialised, since it makes it easier to reject spam.
Because highly specialised topics are seldom important to Jane and John
Public an half-open or open mailing list gains nothing.

If a mailing list requires subscription, you'll end up with people
subscribing for one question and then they start spamming the list with
sending "unsubscribe" to evolution-list gnome org instead of
evolution-list-request gnome org or even much more annoying mails to the
list, because they are unable to unsubscribe.

Each approach has pros and cons. IMO for Evolution as a much used MUA,
that belongs to the GNOME DE, the approach of a half-opened mailing
list is the best choice. Closing the list for people who aren't
subscribed comes with disadvantages, at least expect to get many
"unsubscribe" messages, sent to the list and don't expect that you
easily could filter those mails by the subject or something like that,
since people will capture a thread, e.g. "Re: [Evolution] Performance
Issues", they don't change the subject, they quote the complete
original message and on top of the mail body they simply write
"unsubscribe", or "take me from your list".

Regards,
Ralf