List etiquette (was Re: Multiple threads and drawing)

[Robert Pearce <rob bdt-home demon co uk>]

On Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:54:39 +0200 Milosz wrote:
> 
> Just reply to one and add the others to the CC field (e.g. in the case now
> i'm replying to you (German), and CCing Klaus and gtkmm-list)

That's actually the wrong way to do it. Some people (me on some
machines) have their mail clients configured to sort messages into
folders by the "To:" address. If your reply is only CC'd to the list it
gets filed in the wrong place. This annoys me - I shouldn't have to
create a second rule just to catch your replies to people on this list.

Frankly, if the original post was to the list, your reply should be
ONLY to the list. I know you include the person you're replying to
because you think that's a courtesy, but to my mind it's actually a
discourtesy - it attempts to elevate a public discussion into my
personal inbox where it doesn't belong. I don't think your opinion is
any more (or less) valuable than anyone else's, nor do I assume I'm
specifically more interested in it that any other list subscriber.
Indeed most of the time I'm posting a response to somebody else, and I
really don't care at all what you think of my opinion (the person I
replied to might well care considerably, but usually it's me that gets
the personally addressed copy).

So, all in all, please REPLY TO THE LIST ONLY unless you have a very
good reason to do otherwise.