RE: problem building DBI module

From: Ronald J Kimball (rjk-dbi_at_focalex.com)
Date: 06/16/04 

To: "'Jacqui Caren'" <Jacqui.Caren@ig.co.uk>, <dbi-users@perl.org>
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 12:48:36 -0400

Jacqui Caren [mailto:Jacqui.Caren@ig.co.uk] wrote:

> Jeff Zucker wrote:
>
> > word unsubscribe which will bring you to the very simple instructions,
> > namely just send mail to this address:
> >
> > dbi-users-unsubscribe@perl.org
>
> Why not add this as a footer to every msg that goes through the list
> or send an 'how to unsubscribe' email once a month?

We've used the footer in the past. It doesn't help. We still got
complaints from idiots who sign up for the list and then can't figure out
how to unsubscribe.

Sending a monthly 'how to unsubscribe' email just clutters up the list, and
also doesn't help much.

> You could have simply emailed the author with the above instruction
> but I suppsose you get macho brownie points by publically ridiculing
> a newbie.

Indeed.

> The "please get me off this list" problem has appeared upon a
> nnumber of mailing lists I subscribe to and the majority of
> list-owners feel that conforming to best practise guidelines
> (such as including an unsubscribe link in every email) is not
> worth the effort or anti spam guidelines/legislation does not
> apply to them.

There is an unsubscribe link in every email. It's in the message headers.
Nonetheless, this is a discussion list. It is neither commercial nor
unsolicited. Anti-spam guidelines/legislation don't apply. And, in fact,
it's not worth the effort, since it's not effective.

> OK I admit the legal recourse is weak at the mo however
> ignorance is no excuse - everyone should aim to conform
> to best practise and best practise will become law
> sooner rather than later.

Sorry, when you say ignorance, are you referring to the ignorance of users
who sign up for a list and then can't figure out how to unsubscribe?

Best practice is to save the welcome message when you sign up to a list, to
check the message headers for the standard List-* headers, and not to send a
message to the entire list when you want to unsubscribe.

> I suppose nothing will happen until someone manages to take
> a "public service" mailing list provider to court and win.

Yeah, don't hold your breath waiting for that.

> Jacqui
>
> p.s. "That does not apply to me" is a common spammer excuse.
> As legitimate list owners we have no real reason to use it.

Except, of course, for the very real reason that it really doesn't apply to
us.

I'd be happy to hear about effective solutions to this problem of users who
can't figure out how to unsubscribe from discussion lists, but I don't think
message footers or monthly reminders do it.

Ronald

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