my protest

[Una Smith]

On Mon, 8 Nov 1999, Doug Yanega wrote:

>The *correct* default setting for mailing lists is what Taxacom has now

Correct only as in the one you prefer, Doug.

I have run enough lists myself to appreciate how complex the tradeoffs
are between setting the default reply-to to the author or to the list.
It is not an easy choice to make.

Personally, I prefer the default reply-to set to the list.  It is more
convenient for most subscribers, and helps to keep discussions going.
But it tends to embarrass people who don't pay enough attention to their
e-mail.  Small lists generally have reply-to set to the list;  big lists
generally have reply-to set to the author.  ECOLOG-L, which Doug Yanega
cited as an example, has been huge for years.  TAXACOM is in the middle.

        Una Smith               una.smith at yale.edu

        Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
        Yale University
        New Haven, CT  06520-8106