Proposal: Creating useful titles

[Geoff Hart <geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA>]

     CogitoTS -at- AOL -dot- COM
     <<Wouldn't it be handy if all messages had clear subject lines,
     including designations such as <ADV> for advertising messages, <???>
     for inquiries, <*%!!> for flames and polemic ranting, <$$> for job
     postings.  With all the professionals on this list, I'm sure we can
     come up with additional categories and abbreviations.>>

     Hear, hear! It's difficult to keep up with the volume of mail in this
     area without some sort of presorting. I propose that we come up with a
     list of such "icons" and start using it. Since "cogitot" proposed the
     idea, would s/he be willing to compile a list of suggestions, post
     them here for feedback, and then make them available as a FAQ document
     for this mailing list? For those who are graphically challenged (me,
     for instance), at least use just a simple keyword at the beginning of
     the "subject" area... this would help greatly. (Less cryptic and
     subjective than icons too.) Here are a few suggestions to follow up on
     cogitot's icons (for discussion, revision and perhaps adoption):

     Proposal: Hey guys and gals, I'd like you to consider doing the
     following
     Advert: I want to sell something
     Flame: Someone ticked me off
     Help-me: I need a question answered
     Help-you: Here's my advice
     Job: position wanted/available
     Spam: I need someone to talk to, doesn't matter about what
     etc.

     One other note: using tabloid-style headlines for the subject line of
     messages makes a whole lot of sense. Simply repeating the original
     title (prefaced by "re.:" doesn't help those of us who don't have
     newsreaders or other means of following message threads.

     --Geoff  #8^{)}