[SM-DEVEL] Why we require subscription to the mailing lists in order to post

[Rick C. <ri...@sq...>]

Arcady Genkin said:

> (1) my biggest beef is that I need to be aware of what
> address is in my From header when I post, and (2) this measure as spam
> protection is bogus, because in many *very* high volume lists[1] (with
> web achives and everything) that accept posts from any email addy,
> level of spam is so low that it's absolutely negligible.

     1)  Do what I do.  Subscribe to the list with any and all
         addresses you *might* post to the list with, but shut off
         actually receiving messages from all but one.

         This way, you're allowed to post with any of them that you
         like and don't have to watch your From: header, but you only
         receive one of each message.

     2)  As list manager for the SM-USERS and now defunct SM-LIST lists,
         I can tell you that we generally get spam for each list every
         day, trying to post to the list directly.

         You do not see it, because the list maintainers reject the
         messages before they reach the lists.


> IMO this `feature' creates more inconvenience to the legitimate users
> than helps with fighting spam.  And yes, it may be beneficial for the
> project to let a person to send in an odd patch to -devel without
> having to be subscribed to the list and getting involved with the
> project, and that happens all the time in other projects, mailing
> lists of which I read.

     This methodology, that of "if you use a product and want support
     for it, you should be willing to receive the support mail" (we even
     offer it in digest form once per day!), is a different take on the
     open source community, that Paul came up with, and I think it's a
     good one.

     Many people who have dabbled in using open source projects have been
     soured on the whole idea.  Number one reason I've heard?  "Open source
     developers/users are rude.  You ask a question, and they get in your
     face about how the question has been answered before..." and so on
     and so on.

     We're as guilty of this as any, though I'd like to think that SM
     participants are a bit more gentle with their RTFMs than most...

     On the flip side, we, the project team members, are also prone to
     exasperation with users who come out of the blue, post an error
     they're getting, and demand a fix, saying our software doesn't
     work- though the answer is on the first page of the FAQ, if they'd
     read it... or any of the last week's worth of mailing list messages.

     Bottom line:  Users have a choice.

     They can use the product on their own, use the help system, the
     website, the FAQ, and the message list archives to help them, all
     without having to subscribe to a single mailing list.

     If they want more support than that, or they'd like to join the
     community and give back a little, they need to subscribe to the
     lists.  Reading the lists will GREATLY reduce the redundancy and
     annoyance factor to all parties involved, and save everyone time
     and "RTFM spam".

     We're not leaving users out in the cold if they don't want to
     subscribe- they've got lots of resources.  Some users even read
     the message list archives, find someone who seems to know what
     they're talking about, and email that person directly, rather
     than join the list.

     Either way, it's their choice, and in my opinion, not the hardship
     you make it out to be.  Paul has come up with a good way of both
     helping users and building the SM community, and I'm all for it.

     -Rick
     ri...@sq...