[maemo-developers] [maemo-devel] List emails subject prefix

[From: Mike Lococo]

> I have been very concerned about a general tenor of this list.  It
> seems like some are suggesting that if you haven't been on the list
> long enough, if you don't use the right email client, and several
> other comments I've heard recently, then you aren't good enough to be
> on this list.  Instead, we need to be welcoming old and new, people
> using pine, elm, modest, Outlook or whatever email client.

While I know that you're referring to other threads as well, and while 
the responses to Edward's post weren't all as kind or thoughtful as they 
could have been, it should be noted that subject prefixes are a 
well-known hot-button topic (on many lists, not just this one). 
Furthermore, they've been discussed and rejected here:

http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/maemo/developers/30148#30148
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/maemo/developers/16800#16800

Among the litany of good reasons against subject tagging [1], we have 
the added reason that screen real-estate on mobile devices is precious 
and long subject-lines are especially problematic for the many 
individuals reading this list on small-screened maemo-devices.

While we as a community can always aim to improve our tone and focus 
energies better, I don't think this was a case of "jump on the 
newcomer".  It's a FAQ for mailing list administration in general, an AQ 
for the maemo-* lists, and an issue both sides tend to feel strongly 
about.  With the tremendous influx of new users right now, there are 
bound to be some growing pains.  That's not an excuse for bad-behavior, 
we still need to police ourselves, but it's worth keeping in mind.

Soooo... welcome aboard Edward.  Thanks for your suggestion, please 
consider checking the archives before posting next time because this was 
discussed already.

Cheers,
Mike Lococo

[1] http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/qralston/writing/tagging-harmful/