"James C. McMaster (Jim)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Thomas Reinke said: >> Is anyone else not finding the noise ratio (i.e. spam) a bit high >> here? I sympathize with the effort required to lightly moderate, >> but might I recommend that _something_ be done to rid us all of >> this spam? It's getting to be irritating enough that I'm tempted to >> drop off the list, which I'd just as soon not do - wget is a >> fantastic little tool that I'd just as soon stay involved with >> actively, if possible. >> > The easiest solution would be for the list owners to require people > to subscribe before posting. So far, they seem unwilling to do > that. All the product-support lists to which I subscribe (except > this one) have that policy, and I never get spam from any of them.
I do not know what you call a "product support mailing list", but this is a free software project development list, and certainly not the only one with the open posting policy. For example, XEmacs mailing lists are open to non-subscriber posting. But that was just an example. The actual reasoning for allowing non-subscriber posting boils down to three reasons: 1. I believe it is the right thing to do. I personally hate allegedly "supportive" mailing lists that require me to subscribe before asking a question. I don't want to subscribe, dammit, I just want to ask something. 2. It allows the discussion to extend to non-subscribers. You can simply Cc a person to a discussion pertinent to him, and he will be able to respond to the list. 3. It allows the mails from <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> to be rerouted to this list. I am aware that in this matter, as well as in the infamous `Reply-To' debate, this list lies in the minority. But that is not a sufficient reason to back down and let the spammers win. If you have a spam-fighting suggestion that does *not* include disallowing non-subscriber postings, I am more than willing to listen.
