[Mono-devel-list] Where's the Mailman doc?

[Jonathan Hogg]

On 20/4/03 10:57, Mark Moore wrote:

> For instance, here's a message from the mono-devel-list written about 2
> months before I even knew about mono:
> 
> http://lists.ximian.com/archives/public/mono-devel-list/2003-February/000000
> .html
> 
> Show me how you would reply to that thread.  There's nothing in my mailbox
> to "reply" to, and I'm assuming it's not lurking in yours...

I would say that if the thread is 2 months old, and there is nothing recent
to reply to, the act of replying is unnecessary. Simply compose a new email.
Reference the older one if you feel it may be useful - an archive URL such
as you give above would be an ideal way to do this.

This is not a problem with mailman, it is an intrinsic property of a mailing
list. A reply to a posting on a list consists of a reply to an email. If you
don't have the email, then you can't reply to it.

There are only two things that differentiate a reply from any other kind of
email: retaining the subject with a 'Re:' prefix, and the addition of an
'In-Reply-To:' header referencing the 'Message-ID:' of the original. Both of
these are simply conventions and, after a period of time, neither is
particularly useful at helping anyone to recall the thread.

I think you may be confusing a mailing list with a message board. There is
no SQL database behind this, no web front-end. The list archives are just
that - archives.

If you want to join in, just do so. There are no rules beyond normal
netiquette.

Jonathan

-- 
jonathan hogg, one good idea ltd, 131 queen margaret dr., glasgow g20 8pd
http://www.onegoodidea.com/ tel:+44-(0)7976-614338 fax:+44-(0)7970-537451