_________________________________________________________________
re: > please e-mail                           Edition: 2002-07-07
Audience: World-Wide

Often seen in postings to netnews & other forums:

    "please copy any answers to my email address as well
     as I don't always get to read the newsgroups."

This is not a criticism, but rather a net tip that may serve you.

If you want to de-motivate many informed net users who might
otherwise answer your question, stating "please email", or even
more effectively "please email, as I don't read this newsgroup
regularly", is a great way to do it.  A significant percentage of
credible net users simply do not respond when an article says
"please email".

Why?  This is not about "netiquette", but rather about results.
Potential contributors may (and do) misinterpret your intentions
and choose to not reply.  The reason is that, although you
probably didn't intend it, "please email" can be read as:

 * I'm a hit-and-run surfer in this group.

 * I have never contributed anything here myself, and don't ever
   expect to.

 * I want all (or a number) of you to spend time addressing my
   issue.

 * My time is more valuable than yours.

 * I don't want you to share the answer with anyone else here,
   even if the question is of general interest.

 * I only want isolated answers, with no one else correcting any
   misinformation or completing any missing information.

 * I can't be bothered subscribing to this netnews group long
   enough to read responses.

 * I won't even check http://groups.google.com, to read responses
   there.

 * Bye.


The preferred alternative is:

  1. If the question might have been asked in netnews since 1995,
     check for traffic at:
     http://groups.google.com
     
     This will also save you from guessing incorrectly about which
     newsgroups are having the most intense discussion of the topic.

  2. If the question might be in a FAQ (Frequently Asked
     Question) document, check a web search site.

  3. Not found?  Then by all means ask in netnews or your
     favorite forum/BBS.

     Don't include: "I'm not a regular reader."

     Don't include: "I'll summarize to the net".  That promise
     is so rarely honored, that stating it actually impairs
     one's credibility.

     If there's need to summarize, it will become apparent from
     your email and netnews responses.  If so, don't promise it,
     just do it.

  4. Subscribe to the group for at least 10 days to collect
     responses.
     
     If your newsfeed has a short expiration (as mine does), and
     you are afraid that you might miss a response, try Google
     (URL above).

  5. If you have a technical/logistical/organizational problem
     with access to netnews and the web, explain it.  This may
     raise your chances of getting responses.  For example:

     "Please email as well as post responses.  My news and web
      access is presently broken, and I don't know when it will
      get fixed. I've had to use a borrowed account to post this,
      so use the email address in the .SIG below"

  6. If you must include "please email", include a known-good
     email address in the text at that point, and also insert or
     edit the Followup-to: header, as well as declare a Reply-To:
     header.  If you rely on the default address in the From:
     header, it will often fail, and most respondents won't
     bother investing the time to troubleshoot a second reply
     attempt.

     Header lines to add or edit (where "poster" is literally
     that, and "you@host.org.domain" must be changed to your
     email address):

     Followup-to: poster
     Reply-To: you@host.org.domain

  7. In general, if an email response is more appropriate than a
     posted one, you can presume that the responders will figure
     that out, but also doesn't hurt to say, if appropriate:

          "If this is addressed in a FAQ, please point me to it.
           If this request is apt to generate multiple duplicate
           responses, please email them to me."

Finally, this is not just my opinion.  When I post this tutorial,
I often get mail from valued net contributors who agree, and who
acknowledge that they indeed often FAIL TO REPLY when they see
"please email".  I also sometimes get email from the person
asking the question, expressing annoyance at what they see as
being lectured to,

    and complaining that no one will answer their question

 - which is the whole point of this tutorial.

About the only thing you can post that is actually LESS likely to
generate responses is:  
    "please email, and note that my Reply-To: address is
     munged to foil spammers.  Please edit as follows..."

Regards,                           PO Box 248
Bob Niland                         Enterprise
mailto:name@isp-name.domain        Kansas 
which, due to spam, is:            67441-0248 USA
rjn AT access DASH one DOT com

Unless otherwise specifically stated expressing personal
opinions and NOT speaking for any employer, client or Internet
Service Provider.