Comments on: rant about mailing lists http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/ Eli Bendersky's personal website Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:20:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: eliben http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/comment-page-1/#comment-125133 eliben Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:59:53 +0000 http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/#comment-125133 Cymen, I wasn't aware of the "skip inbox" option. I'll give it a try. Thanks a lot for the recommendation Cymen,
I wasn’t aware of the “skip inbox” option. I’ll give it a try.

Thanks a lot for the recommendation

]]> By: Cymen http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/comment-page-1/#comment-125131 Cymen Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:21:58 +0000 http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/#comment-125131 Yes, that is true but for each mailing list I setup a filter that makes the list traffic skip the inbox and get tagged with a filter (so it's like having a folder basically). Without that, I'd not be using GMail! Yes, that is true but for each mailing list I setup a filter that makes the list traffic skip the inbox and get tagged with a filter (so it’s like having a folder basically). Without that, I’d not be using GMail!

]]> By: eliben http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/comment-page-1/#comment-125125 eliben Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:33:20 +0000 http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/#comment-125125 GMail has a big problem though - it dumps everything into the inbox. Labels don't help me here - all my mail will get swamped in the flux of a high-traffic mailing list. GMail has a big problem though - it dumps everything into the inbox. Labels don’t help me here - all my mail will get swamped in the flux of a high-traffic mailing list.

]]> By: Cymen http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/comment-page-1/#comment-125097 Cymen Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:43:22 +0000 http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/#comment-125097 Try GMail even if you only use it for mailing lists. It does mailing lists right (threads discussions, minimizes duplicate information in threads, and more). It makes mailing lists usable and these features are the main things keeping me using GMail as they are done very well. Try GMail even if you only use it for mailing lists. It does mailing lists right (threads discussions, minimizes duplicate information in threads, and more). It makes mailing lists usable and these features are the main things keeping me using GMail as they are done very well.

]]> By: Andreas Davour http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/comment-page-1/#comment-125072 Andreas Davour Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:35:14 +0000 http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/#comment-125072 Eli, the problem is not the mailing lists, but the fact that you don't use the right tools. Every sensible mail client should be able to show threads and the relations between the messages. Note also that google groups, which you seem to like, is just a web interface to the nntp based messaging system beneath. If you read the groups you like, e.g. comp.lang.python, with a proper newsreader you'll probably see even more functionality you're missing. The reason you are having a problem is you have a hammer, and all your problems looks like nails. A webbrowser isn't nessesarily the best interface to every kind of discussion media. Note also that there's a difference in push or pull. E-mail come to you, and I find it superior to all kinds of web based communication which in my view is just as fragmented as you view mailing lists. I don't care if there's six different mailing lists, since they all come delivered to my inbox. YMMV. Personally I think discussions in newsgroups (i.e. nntp based) are superior to both e-mail and all kinds of web based interfaces. Eli, the problem is not the mailing lists, but the fact that you don’t use the right tools. Every sensible mail client should be able to show threads and the relations between the messages. Note also that google groups, which you seem to like, is just a web interface to the nntp based messaging system beneath. If you read the groups you like, e.g. comp.lang.python, with a proper newsreader you’ll probably see even more functionality you’re missing.

The reason you are having a problem is you have a hammer, and all your problems looks like nails. A webbrowser isn’t nessesarily the best interface to every kind of discussion media. Note also that there’s a difference in push or pull. E-mail come to you, and I find it superior to all kinds of web based communication which in my view is just as fragmented as you view mailing lists. I don’t care if there’s six different mailing lists, since they all come delivered to my inbox. YMMV.

Personally I think discussions in newsgroups (i.e. nntp based) are superior to both e-mail and all kinds of web based interfaces.

]]> By: dvk http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/comment-page-1/#comment-125002 dvk Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:45:40 +0000 http://eli.thegreenplace.net/2008/08/02/rant-about-mailing-lists/#comment-125002 >can’t see thread hierarchies - everything is flat Actually, it's not flat. All messages carry fields in their header that mail clients use to show messages hierarchically (the fields are Message-ID and In-Reply-To). Actually, I do not know a single mail client that does not do this. >can’t see thread hierarchies - everything is flat

Actually, it’s not flat. All messages carry fields in their header that mail clients use to show messages hierarchically (the fields are Message-ID and In-Reply-To). Actually, I do not know a single mail client that does not do this.

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