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| Synopsis: This page is intended to document the rules for posting a message to one of our mailing lists. These rules have been mentioned in several of our mailing lists on multiple occasions, but weren't yet documented in our wiki. |
Contents
Top Posting or Bottom Posting
Different mailing lists have different practices.
In some top posting is expected. It's most commonly used on mailing lists, where a web browser is normally used to read and create postings using a web interface.
For other mailing lists, bottom posting is normal. Most articles are read and created using text based email clients. When joining a mailing list, it's best to review a number of articles and use which ever practice is normal for that mailing list.
On the Mageia mailing lists, text only bottom posting is preferred (writing your message underneath the previous message) when you reply in a thread. Top posting makes it harder to understand the messages, you can compare the following screenshots of the bodies of two mails with exactly the same messages, but one with top posting and the other with bottom posting:
Top Posting Example
Bottom Posting Example
Inline Posting, with different Example
Another allowed option, when the original message contains more than one seperate part to which you want to reply, is to reply inline.
That is, your reply to a section comes right below it, but above the following sections.
About the Summary of your Mail
When starting a new topic, make sure the summary matches the topic well
So, for instance, not: Mageia stopped working
,
but: After today's updates, I can no longer boot into Mageia 8
.
Change the topic when there is new essential information
E.g. for the previous example, if you inform the mailing list that you can still boot with previous kernels, change the subject into:
After today's updates, I cannot use the newest kernel to boot into Mageia 8
.
Deleting Part of the Original Message
When there are multiple points being discussed in an article, it's common to delete everything from the posting being replied to, except the point that is being responded to. Be careful not to delete too much, as some other parts may be indirectly relevant to the point being replied to.
Hijacking a Thread
Hijacking is when you start about something entirely different, for instance when, in a thread about problems with a video card, you start about your sound card. Never do that.
Start your own thread if you have a new subject to discuss!
About Attachments
Attaching a proposed spec file or patch is fine. However, please don't attach large files. Many of us are members of tens of mailing lists and like to keep the messages for a long time, to be able to search through them when needed. With large attachments, space can run out fast.
Also keep in mind that every article posted to a mailing list is sent to the email addresses of everyone subscribed to the list, and different email providers may impose different limits on the size of allowed attachments.
Remember our Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct speaks for itself. Additionally, please be aware that English is not the mother tongue for most of us. A miscommunication can feel like wrong behaviour, but really only be a problem to express oneself in English.
