Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!uunet!snorkelwacker!bionet!kristoff From: kristoff@genbank.BIO.NET (David Kristofferson) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts Subject: Re: Direct Mail Responses Message-ID: Date: 29 May 90 16:57:51 GMT References: <9005291546.AA08649@genbank.bio.net> Organization: GenBank Online Service Lines: 47 > Messages are occasionally posted on this board requesting a direct replay. > While this may serve a purpose by reducing the volume of board messages, it > negates an important board function of informing us of answers to various > questions that may not be of immediate interest but are useful things to know. The default for all of the BIOSCI nodes except IRLEARN is for replies to go only to the poster of the message being replied to. This not only reduces the number of copies of similar answers to a query, but also prevents people from embarassing themselves in public (e.g., whoops, you mean what I said was braodcast to everyone?!?). However this does give a false impression of inactivity on the groups. If you think that your response is of general interest, all one need do to copy a reply to the newsgroup is to include the newsgroup address in your response. This is usually done by "cc"ing the newsgroup address. If you don't know how to do this with your mail program, ask your local systems administrator. Most mail programs should have a means of adding (or subtracting) addresses to a message after it is composed but before it is sent. For example, in UNIX mail one could enter the line ~c methods@genbank.bio.net to cc the newsgroup METHODS-AND-REAGENTS. This can be entered at any time while composing one's message. In the "mm" mail program the cc command can be used at the S> prompt before sending, e.g., S> cc methods@genbank.bio.net S> send In the vnews UNIX USENET newsreading software one can use the "f" (followup) command to reply to the newsgroup or the "r" (reply) command to reply just to the poster of the first message. Perhaps others familiar with other mail programs could post some similar examples. -- Sincerely, Dave Kristofferson GenBank On-line Service Manager kristoff@genbank.bio.net