Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 08:13:49 -0500 From: Ron Tarrant <rtarrant@sympatico.ca> To: doc@FreeBSD.org Subject: Misleading Message-ID: <3ABF408D.B6B070B8@sympatico.ca>
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Hi,
The other day, I was reading Chapter 19 of the FreeBSD handbook online
and got into a bit of a pickle after clicking on a link. I'd like to
bring your attention to the following passage:
--------------------------------- start
------------------------------------
19.2.2.3. Using FreeBSD-STABLE
1.Join the FreeBSD-stable mailing list <freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.org>.
This will keep you informed of build-dependencies that may appear in
stable or any other issues requiring special attention. Developers will
also make announcements in this mailing list when they are contemplating
some controversial fix or update, giving the users a chance to respond
if they have any issues to raise concerning the proposed change.
The FreeBSD CVS commit message mailing list <cvs-all@FreeBSD.org>
mailing list will allow you to see the commit log entry for each change
as it is made along with any pertinent information on possible
side-effects.
------------------------------------ end
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The two bits in angle brackets ( <freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.org> and
<cvs-all@FreeBSD.org> ) appear, at first glance, to be links set up to
join the respective mailing lists. Unless the reader goes so far as to
read the next paragraph after these two, s/he won't realize this is not
the case. I was informed by two different readers of the freebsd-stable
mailing list that my message asking to be added to the freebsd-stable
mailing list went out to everyone who subscribes, rather than just to
the majordomo.
I'd like to suggest that these links be either changed to point to the
appropriate e-mail addresses or be taken out altogether so as to avoid
this type of thing happening. I'm not a newbie to computers or to UNIX,
but I was mislead by this and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I was
embarassed to find that, in my haste to quickly sign up to the mailing
list, I ended up looking like a bit of a dweeb to everyone else already
signed on. I admit I was in a hurry, but I don't quite understand why
these links would be set up in such a way as to post messages directly
onto the list. Seems a bit chancey in the grand scheme of things, given
that a number of corporate and marketing types are turning to FreeBSD
these days. Every single one of them, considering the time pressure
they're under, will likely do the same thing I did (who reads more than
they have to, right?). For the sake of the mailing list subscribers, I
implore you to make these changes.
Thanks for reading. If any part of this message comes across as rude, I
appologize.
-Ron Tarrant
rtarrant@sympatico.ca
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