[Baypiggies] Fwd: Request to mailing list Baypiggies rejected

[Michael Bernstein]

On Wed, 2007-01-10 at 13:23 -0800, Aahz wrote:
> 
> There are two reasonably good ways to handle this:
> 
> * If the topic is particularly relevant to one mailing list, send an
> invitation to the other mailing list(s) inviting them to subscribe
> 
> * If the topic doesn't have a good home, create a new mailing list and
> invite everyone to join

There is another option, if the posting is primarily an announcement
that is relevant to multiple lists rather than intended as the start of
a thread: BCC the lists so each receives a separate copy.

In this *particular* case though, a separately-written email to each
list (with appropriate context and quoting) would have been far less
cryptic. (example: is the 'monthly meeting' referenced baypiggies' or
cap-talk's? Oh, cap-talk doesn't *have* meetings? Well, how are the
Baypiggies subscribers supposed to know that? etc.)

I find that writing a single message that appropriately addresses the
information needs of multiple disparate groups is actually *harder* work
(and can end up looking like a press-release), so it's easier to just
write separate emails.

I'll close with a mixed metaphor: Russell, please don't throw sand in
the gears of the noosphere, OK? Please?

- Michael R. Bernstein
  michaelbernstein.com