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Archiver > Listowners > 1999-09 > 0936699089


From: "Andrew Billinghurst" <>
Subject: Re: Auto Reply messages
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 20:11:29 +1000


Many of these AutoReply functions are caught by the software and
others aren't.

I usually email the perpetrator and say that they need to investigate
their software as it usually has an exclusion list for addresses to
be added to. Plus then I get antsy at them for being thoughtless,
well may be I just imagine doing the second <g> If they are repeat
offenders then I just unsub them and let them resub on return.

Note that when the reply is sent to the original sender this is a
sign of poor software configuration. Why? because in email you will
see a line like
Return-Path: <>
which is meant to be the return route for bounces and the like, so
when they return to the TO: address it is naughty. Personally I
encourage list members to tell me of these things as I would rather
unsubscribe one person with poor software than inconvenience many
others. The poor software person can try and get it fixed IMO.

Regards Andrew


On 7 Sep 99, at 0:57, <> wrote:

> I am wondering if anyone else has a problem with "Auto Reply" messages.
>
> Several of my lists have members that must get their mail at their work email
> addy. So every time a message is posted after working hours, on weekends and
> holidays an auto reply message gets sent back to me that the person is out of
> the office,blah blah blah.
> I know that I belong to lists that also have this and since they are reply to
> sender, the reply comes back to the person who wrote the message.
>
> Personally I find it all very annoying. For some reason it bugs me
> ethically, must be the former manager in me. But I know that I have seen
> discussion privately among folks who get these when they post to certain
> groups.
>
> Is there something we can do or do I just put up with the many "answering
> machine" messages that fill my personal mailbox on holidays and weekends? Of
> course many people are attending to their genealogy "hobby" on the weekends
> so more messages fly.
> Thanks for the input.
> Jo
>
> ______________________________

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