My $0.02 on this: While it may be a worthwhile personal pursuit to write a script that provides relevant results from google based on the text of someone's email/news posting/etc, I don't think this is the forum for it. These are very busy lists to start with and this essentially will result in doubling the 'new' traffic to the list with information that is irrelevant to anyone but the original poster. The irrelevancy of the auto responder will increase when faced with questions by folks that are so far off that they're not even asking the right question to begin with(seems to be somewhat common in these groups). For these people, investigative questioning is the only correct response and an autoresponder (with a lot of text - read: information overload) will only confuse them more.
If anything, the response should go directly to the poster, not to the list. IE: Your question has been posted to the XXX List, while you're waiting for someone to respond, try out these links from google.com that may or may not be relevant to your query: 1. <link> <Google Desc> ... 10. <link> <Google Desc> Also, googling should be the first resort of any technical person. I think the list FAQs should be updated in Section 2, Question 9 'Other Tips Before Posting To The List' with something like: _1._ Try to google.com with your question first! Google has extremely relevant search results and may preclude asking your question to the list. Tossing his copper in the pot, Matt Shaw Technical Architect xwave, An Aliant Company Bus: 506-389-4641 (Mctn) Bus: 506-444-9639 (Fred) Cel: 506-863-8949 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -----Original Message----- > From: Casey West [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 3:41 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Beta Testing a Robot > > > I'm beta-testing a robot that searches Google when new > questions are posed to the beginners' lists. I have no idea > if it will be useful. > :-) > > I'm going to watch it closely and hope it is. I'll remove it > if I find that it does a bad job. > > Casey West > > -- > Good Idea: Kissing a loved one. > Bad Idea: Kissing a total stranger. > > > -- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
