<..> > IMHO, this suggestion reveals a serious misunderstanding. > > Threading is *not* posting-related; it is topic-related.
Wrong > 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. Wrong again Pseudo-threading, as implemented in *some* email programs, does, in *some* cases, rely on the subject line to create a thread like display of messages Threading, however, relies on information contained in the message headers Don't ****ing bother arguing, this is FACT > Copying text from more than one posting into a single reply posting > does not interfere with the way *any* forum (list, ng, web-page > discussion) software works. Actually, it can and does. Both proper threading and pseudo-threading will be broken and buggered if quotes from posts in different threads are copied into a single reply > This suggestion would outlaw much of the > current (and normal) quoting in discussion. > Such copying allows a significant reduction in the number of postings > (which improves readability and usability) and allows various > (often-related) aspects of a thread discussion to be related (which > improves the discussion, and indeed is often vital for it). Think of > the converse. If there are two on-topic postings within a thread, one > making point A, another point B, and A and B are related, then the > suggestion would apparently require three replies -- one to A, one to > B, and a third with the discussion of the inter-relatedness. That's > just goofy. It may be goofy but it's the way it's supposed to work Normal protocol is to reply to individual posts with individual replies, NOT to combine replies to two or more posts in one reply That said, there are occasions when it is appropriate to do so but they do not occur often and if done, it must be done with considerable care and clarity - neither of which is the case when you do it > In other words, this suggestion is inappropriate, is inconsistent with > the concept of a discussion, and would degrade this forum. If you don't like it, leave the forum > > BTW the correct response to whining is usually for nanny to say "Stop > whining", not to give the whiner(s) a lollipop. I think Steve covered that one
