2009/12/16 Adrian Stott <[email protected]> > Threading is *not* posting-related; it is topic-related. > > The purpose of threading (which is very useful) is to group all > postings on a single topic together. That topic is WHAT IS STATED IN > THE THREAD'S SUBJECT LINE. If you want sub-topics treated grouped > separately, then change the subject line when replying and thus start > a new thread.
Your statement is actually incorrect. Many mail readers are capable of, and do thread according to hidden information in the message headers. For example, the second message in this topic from Ian Mac included the following header lines: References: <[email protected]> In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> ...which link the message to the original posting from George. May mailers do a good job of hiding this level of complication from the average user. What this does of course mean, depending on mail client, that no amount of changes to the subject will break the thread. whilst the original message is replied to. I seem to think that gmail and other web clients tend to thread on subject which works for many but isn't the 'best' way of doing it. In the dim and distant past of t'Internet when Usenet was all the rage for discussions (until Usenet became a way of sharing binaries), Usenet used to thread exactly the same way. I'm now back off under my rock in an effort to avoid Death by Santa Special. -- David Morris blog: http://www.brassedoff.net/wp Skipper: Seth Ellis, Chesterfield Canal Trust, Retford
