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I think that it is important that the title of a thread accurately
reflect what is being discussed. This makes is possible for those who
follow the list on Google Groups (I do because it is more convenient to
scroll down though a thread than clicking on individual emails) to find
and read the messages that are on the topics that interest them. Just as
important, accurate titles also make it possible to avoid reading
messages for which you have no interest. I suggest that one who has
something to post first think about whether it matches the message they
just happen to be looking at at the moment. If it doesn't match then
don't hit the "reply" button but find a more appropriate thread or start
a new topic.

As an example, yesterday I responded to a post on the "RE: Manufacture
new Bygraves?" thread questioning the accuracy of the Bygrave. I
supplied links to reference works that  documented the accuracy. After I
hit "reply" I realized that my response actually discussed something
beyond the original thread (I should have thought of this first, see, I
am not throwing stones, just trying to clean up my own act.) Since I
thought that this post actually addressed a different issue, I started a
new thread, "Accuracy of Bygrave" and reposted the information.

Today I responded to a post by George on that thread in which he
expressed an interest in the flight navigation reference books I had
mentioned and this time I decided to start a new thread, "Flight
navigation reference works" since these might have an appeal to a reader
interested in flight navigation but who was sick of reading about the
Bygrave. (See, I am learning.)

After making my new post I went to drop a reference to the new thread as
a  reply to George's post, (which I suggest is the best way to handle
this), but the "Accuracy of Bygrave" thread had disappeared! I read the
new thread "Re: the Shipwreck of Admiral Shovell." and found that this
completely unrelated topic had been dropped into the "Accuracy of
Bygrave" thread at 10:56 a.m. At 11:01 a.m. I posted my response to
George's post pointing him to the new thread and the title of the thread
reverted back to "Accuracy of Bygrave" again. If someone interested in
accuracy of the Bygrave had been scanning at that time he would have
missed the whole thread. Although it was only five minutes this time, a
thread could be mislabeled for a considerable length of time or even
permanently. And, on the other side of it, if one were interested in the
Shovell disaster, unless they just happened to be searching during this
five minute window of opportunity, they would not find that post.

So please, resist the urge to hit "reply" and think about whether your
posting is on a different topic or has a broader application and if it
does, start a new thread.

gl


Scott Owen wrote:
> I have tried to keep quiet in this thread but can do so no longer.  Can
> we please set up our software or LEARN TO USE the software we have so
> that "threading" works.  I had hoped to not name people but it seems
> that James Wilson and possibly Hanno Ix and others do not know how to
> use "reply to" properly such that "threading" works and how to start a
> new thread/subject.  It seems that every time James posts it's a new
> thread.  James how do you manage to do that?? Do you actually not know
> how to use "reply to" or do you just not know how threading works.  On
> my end, every time certain people post to the group it shows up as a new
> thread!!!  This only contributes to the confusion in topics because the
> thread gets started anew but without a new subject, so for me the same
> subject is spread out over several "new" threads because some people do
> not know how to use this nice message organization feature.  Truly a
> maddening situation for me and I suspect a few others who keep track of
> subjects via message threading.  I shall now retire to the very back
> seats and shut up.
>
> >
>
>


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