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