Jeanette Hartnack wrote: > My preference is to thank people privately for any help I may receive > because I've never thought it fair to burden others with messages that > aren't relevant to them (imagine one morning downloading over ten "thank > you" messages and nothing else!). Private is more personal too. I also > think it's worth considering the possibility that the person to whom you're > grateful might miss your acknowledgement if you only post it to the list. There's nothing wrong with thanking people privately, but I'm inclined to agree with Brad that it can give the impression of ingratitude - so what I have seen a number of people do, and which I think is a good idea, is privately thank those who've helped but also put a single message on the list saying something along the lines of "thank you to all who've helped, a private mail has gone to each". -- Charani (UK)

Charani wrote: > Jeanette Hartnack wrote: > >> My preference is to thank people privately for any help I may receive >> because I've never thought it fair to burden others with messages that >> aren't relevant to them (imagine one morning downloading over ten "thank >> you" messages and nothing else!). Private is more personal too. I also >> think it's worth considering the possibility that the person to whom >> you're >> grateful might miss your acknowledgement if you only post it to the list. > > There's nothing wrong with thanking people privately, but I'm inclined > to agree with Brad that it can give the impression of ingratitude - so > what I have seen a number of people do, and which I think is a good > idea, is privately thank those who've helped but also put a single > message on the list saying something along the lines of "thank you to > all who've helped, a private mail has gone to each". > > -- > Charani (UK) > No, there isn't anything wrong with thanking people privately - that's good manners - but I really think thanking the person who helped you is what your priority should be, rather than making sure that every list member knows what a "nice person" you are. Nevertheless, if the list manager required that "thank yous" be treated in a certain way then, of course, I would oblige. I didn't really intend to make a big deal out of this, however, to assume a person must be ill-mannered because you didn't see a "thank you" message about something that's probably not even relevant to you just seems rather peculiar to me . . . just my opinion. Jeanette.