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<TITLE>RE: A little patience, PLEASE</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>MailScanner is a tricky one for off-topic posts. Because there are so many tools that are critical to a successful MS operation (mta, virus scanners, spamassassin) it's sometimes difficult for newcomers to see where one tool ends and another begins. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I feel patience is definitely warranted, and I personally have no objection to the off-topic posts. In fact, I agree with Marco and Alex; I have also learned much from these posts. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>> -----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> From: Stephe Campbell [<A HREF="mailto:campbell@CNPAPERS.COM">mailto:campbell@CNPAPERS.COM</A>] </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 2:09 PM</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> To: MAILSCANNER@JISCMAIL.AC.UK</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Subject: A little patience, PLEASE</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> I think I have to comment on some of the "answers" that a lot </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> of people are giving and getting lately. I hope there are no </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> replies to this, just take it as it is. Food for thought. It </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> is directed at no one in particular.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> MailScanner is a very fine application. It does just about </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> everything that people could want in the realm of spam, and a </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> lot more. To do this requires a very lengthy configuration </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> file, and some of the concepts of the combined options are </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> overwhelming. I recall, way back when it wasn't so complex, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> wearing out Mr. Field with questions just because I couldn't </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> figure out some simple concept that now seems crystal clear. </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> I now have over 13000 email messages retained from this list </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> and I have deleted many more. That means the archives have </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> that many also. And I started late into the list, so there </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> were many more before I joined.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Obviously, the archives should be the first source of </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> questioning if you know what to search for, but to _reply_ to </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> someone who is new, confused or just 'without coffee' </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> suggesting that they should look in the archives for </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> something is somewhat of a joke. Based on recent replies, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> they will now mostly find answers to a query which directs </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> them to 'search the archives'. A vicous circle, if you see </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> what I mean. And this will only get worse if this continues. </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> What good are archives that suggest you do exactly what you </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> are doing? A query could result in hundreds of hits, mostly </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> suggesting you search the archives. There are only so many </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> subject line variations that we can use for "whitelist, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> blacklist, rulesets, etc". What are we going to use as a </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> search parameter to differentiate?</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> I would like to plead to the knowledgable people of this list </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> (And there are many who have helped me before): If you know </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> the answer to a question, please provide it in your reply. </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Make a suggestion to search the archives, mention the MAQ </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> that Mr. Bellavance is pouring so much effort and time into, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> ask that requesters view their current email, but please, </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> provide some information relating to the question. Perhaps </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> our Inboxes won't be so full all of the time with MailScanner email.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> If what I am saying is not logical, and obvious, then by all </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> means, delete this immediately and pay it no mind. I thank </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> all who take the time to monitor this list and who reply in </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> any way they feel is proper. This is one of the most </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> responsive lists I have seen, and the responders are always </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> providing ingenious solutions to all questions. All who </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> belong make it what it is.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> I'm really debating with myself now whether I should hit the </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Send button.........</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Gratefully,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Steve Campbell</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> campbell@cnpapers.com</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Charleston Newspapers</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
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