Replying to the list is usually preferable to replying only to the
poster; and including the message you're responding to is usually good.
 The problem arises when someone who subscribes to the list in digest
mode (as I do) includes the entire digest in responding to a post.  We
digest subscribers should delete everything but the message to which
we're responding.

Scott

------------------------------
Date:    Thu, 29 May 2003 13:48:54 -0400
From:    westview <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Posting messages

"Reply All" resends to the entire list; "Reply" usually only responds
to the individual.  That said, are you saying that when someone posts a
query a reply should be sent only to that individual and not to the
whole list?  I, for one, would object to that.  The whole point of the
list is to share information.  Although I very seldom see anything on
this list that relates to my personal research, I have learned a
tremendous amount by monitoring other people's research.  Many times I
see queries come across that never appear to be answered, then
something will come across that gives me to understand that the
question had been answered privately --- extremely aggravating.

As to the entire thread of messages being resent if you hit "Reply
All":  as Paul said, offtimes you need the prior messages to understand
the current one.  If, like me and probably most of our listers, you
belong to multiple lists, it helps to have the whole thread each time
-- that allows you to delete prior messages about the same subject
instead of endlessly keeping them "on hold" in your inbox.

The LVA list is very large and active; if your mailbox is being clogged
by messages, may I suggest you switch to the digest mode for receiving
e-mail from the list.  Or, as has often been stated, you can always use
the delete key for what you don't care to read.

Kathy Liston



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