Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!bionet!bcm!hawk.bcm.tmc.edu
From: steffen@hawk.bcm.tmc.edu (David Steffen)
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts
Subject: Re: Direct Mail Responses
Message-ID: <1513@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
Date: 2 Aug 90 18:42:00 GMT
References: <9008021713.AA04687@genbank.bio.net>
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In article <9008021713.AA04687@genbank.bio.net> David Kristofferson) writes:
>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...
>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 ...in the vnews UNIX USENET newsreading software [is] 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.

In the program I use, 'rn', (under unix running on a Sun) one types
'f' to post a response to the bulletin board
(e.g. bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts), or 'F' to include a copy of the
article you are responding to (as I did here) or 'r' if you DON'T want
to post to the whole world, but just send email to the poster.

My original response to this message terminated here, concluding with
a bit of self deprecating humor and gentle encouragement to the reader
to have no fear, that computers were your friend, and to jump right in
and try posting....
HOWEVER
The filthy UN*X software wouldn't take my article BECAUSE I DIDN'T
WRITE ENOUGH!!!  I could have just said what I had to say, having done
a minor mitzvot by adding my microscopic bit of wisdom to the net and
to the molecular biology community BUT NO, because the amount of new
material I added did not exceed the amount of material I quoted, IT
REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO POST!
[FLAME ON]
If I ever catch the SOB's from Bell Labs who invented UN*X, I will dry
their hair with my microwave.  I ought to get even with AT&T by
posting instructions on how to build a blue box!
[FLAME OFF]
I apologize to one an all for this childish display of verbiage, but
really, if I am to be allowed to post this at all, I have to use lots
and lots of words.  And people make fun of my Macintosh.

Semi-seriously, those of you who wonder why biologists stay away from
computers, consider this: If my scintillation counter, or
spectrophotometer, or whatever ever did something like this to me, I
would send it right back to Beckman.  And I _like_ computers.

-David Steffen- (steffen@mbir.bcm.tmc.edu)