[Mailman-Developers] AOL's requirements for spam complaints

[Chuq Von Rospach]

On Jan 29, 2004, at 11:04 PM, moron wrote:

>
> Howdy.  I do not understand why you would feel that adding a 
> personalized
> header makes the list experience any better.

Lots of research with end-users, studying their needs and researching 
the places that they struggle using these systems, and having designed 
and built a number of list servers over the years that are used by a 
wide range of users, not all of them geeks.

>   Would Usenet be any better
> with a customized header for every news article you read?

different argument. you don't need that user data to unsubscribe from a 
usenet group.You do to unsubscribe from a list server.

>  There is a big
> difference in my mind between a discussion mailing list

Not from the point of view we're talking about here, which is giving 
the user the info they need to operate the list properly.

> I am also not convinced about the CPU argument.  That's a lot of 
> extraneous
> message IDs to keep track of in databases, bounce detecting, etc.

With the exception of network traffic, it's actually pretty trivial 
stuff. No, I can't explain how I know, but I've been there, done that. 
The only huge cost is the network bandwidth change, which is at least 
2X, and can be 5X, depending on your old configurations.

> Multiply that by a busy list (some of the ones I look
> over are up to 150 - 200 a day sometimes) and it is still significant,
> especially if binaries are involved.

um, heh. Busy. (grin)

>  I also wonder what effect it will have
> on archiving

none.

> But if it works for you, hey go nuts.  But the argument to me sounds
> dangerously similar to the one Microsoft used to push using HTML in 
> email
> which we are all still feeling the unfortunate fallout from

Um, of course, the fact that users want html email is irrelevant. Lots 
of studies show they prefer the look of HTML to text, actually. Except 
in the more hard-core geek crews, but we aren't writing stuff here JUST 
for people who run mutt, right?

>  (zero cognitive
> benefit, plenty of headache).  Just because computers are faster now 
> does not
> mean that resources are suddenly free (as in beer).
>

you might be surprised. Lots of benefit, no headaches.

chuq (guess what I do for a living?)