> When I recently cleaned out my folder of "Sent" emails, I > discovered 12 informational emails I'd sent within the previous > two weeks to folks posting queries to mailing lists, none of > whom bothered to send a response thanking me for the help, or > even acknowledging receipt of my attempt to help. > > kql <[email protected]> When I don't hear back from someone that I email, my first thought is that they may not have received my message. Unfortunately, many email SPAM filters are so aggressive that 'good' email frequently gets flagged as junk even though it isn't. If I don't hear back from someone, I always try to send a second email using a different email account. I mention that I'm doing this because I never heard back from them after sending my previous email. Sometimes the original message really didn't get through and the people appreciate a second try. Sometimes they thought I was the one being rude. Other times my first message did get through and they just hadn't replied but upon receipt of the second message they often do. Sometimes I still hear nothing and then I have no way of knowing if they are just not replying or if neither of my messages made it to them. My suggestion is that you be very hesitant to assume that someone is being discourteous or too lazy to reply after sending them only a single email. Spam filters and other network quirks mean that email is just not that reliable (yet). Mardon <[email protected]>

> > When I recently cleaned out my folder of "Sent" emails, I > > discovered 12 informational emails I'd sent within the previous > > two weeks to folks posting queries to mailing lists, none of > > whom bothered to send a response thanking me for the help, or > > even acknowledging receipt of my attempt to help. > > When I don't hear back from someone that I email, my first thought > is that they may not have received my message. Unfortunately, many > email SPAM filters are so aggressive that 'good' email frequently > gets flagged as junk even though it isn't. > > "Mardon" <[email protected]> Excellent observation. My spam filter sometimes quarantines information I have sent to myself. I have to go through the deleted file every day to be sure something I really want hasn't been trashed. I do not think that lack of response to an inquiry made at large to an entire list necessarily indicates rudeness. If the reply is short, and does not require much research, the lack of "thanks" can be less annoying than the flurry of "thank yous" and "You're welcomes" to each responder that may clutter up the list for days if there are a number of replies -- (maybe if they were just added to the subject line, those who did not respond wouldn't have to waste time opening them). If, however, I have sent a substantial amount of information, to an individual, I too will send a follow-up to be sure it was received rather than just assume discourtesy. Virginia "Virginia Beck" <[email protected]>