[Stoves] About threads and Subjects of messages

[AJH]

On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 10:02:49 -0500, psanders at ilstu.edu wrote:

>So now I am caught between the two
>respected recommendations, and must let you two and others help work it out.

Tom Miles is the final arbiter on this.
>
>I like threads (Subject names) that are more specific to the topic, but when
>should the Subject be changed, and by whom, and is there a way for treads to
>branch?  Does the combination of the new and old Subject lines allow for
>threads to be followed?  Example: "..(new subject).. Was: RE: (old subject)."

The convention always was for the reference line in the header to
indicate the thread and the subject line to change when it was
required. Thus anyone with a threading newsreader could see the
position in the thread of the message and that the thread subject had
been changed.

Now with so many of these lists using non compliant software the title
of the thread is about the only thing we can rely on. 

Anyway I'm more guilty than many for diving off on a tangent without
changing the subject line and it was the sub headings within your
compendium that made replying a bit daunting, had I not already been
involved in the discussion I'd have quietly let it pass by but it
looked like some of the questions were directed directly at me and I
always try to answer direct questions because I know, from experience,
how frustrating it can be to have a question ignored. Having said that
there are limits to the time I am able to devote to the list.

AJH