If you are behind on your mail, there's a good chance that the comment you're about to make or the answer you're about to supply has already been posted by someone else. Discussion threads take many twists and turns, and it is better to post one contribution to the thread after you've fully caught up, than to reply individually to each message. Remember private email. Not all replies are of general interest. Use private email if your reply is more appropriate to the original poster than to the entire list.
Conduct quizzes and surveys by private email.
A request that is likely to generate numerous short responses, many of which are likely to be redundant, is best handled by private email. The original poster should specifically ask for email replies in her original message. After replies have tapered off, it is then appropriate to post a consolidated summary to the net. The pages on electronic communications and email discussion groups are especially relevant. Return to the Savoynet Home Page .