Well folks, what's the concensus on this?  I belong to four lists and this
issue has been hashed out on the other three.  The overwhelming opinion
was: send replies to the list.  The list is an open discussion group; no
discussion results from replies to the individual.  Well-meaning promises
of summaries of replies are usually not kept; this solution also takes too
much time for the individual.  Just read 'em or delete 'em.  The delete
option generally takes but a second of my precious time and most of the
seconds I spend on e-mail involve deletion, but I wouldn't like it any
other way!
Rob Palmer
 
>To all recipients of the Confocal list:
>  Although I am new to this list, I feel obliged to send this message to
>all recipients of the list. When somebody sends an inquiry to multiple
>recipients it makes sense to do so, but when you reply to such an
>inquiry, DO NOT USE THE REPLY FUNCTION of your e-mail software. Doing so
>results in the multiple recipients of the list constantly receiving piles
>of mail messages they are not interested in receiving, decreasing the
>signal/noise ratio of this discussion group to unbearable levels.
>Please be advised to answer the individual inquiry directly to this
>individual's e-mail (yes, you'll have to copy his e-mail address and
>write to the individual personally).
>Thanks in advance for your cooperation,
>   Dr. Danny Bluestein