[conspire] I get mail

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Ruben Safir (ruben at mrbrklyn.com):

> Obviously you know you can automate this response message with procmail.

I might not have been clear on this:  I _did_ automate responses using
an autoresponder I cobbled together as a procmail recipe.  The essay's 
mailto: link for me has, for some years now, gone to that autoresponder,
rather than directly to me.

This is one of those "special" people who read the autoresponder text...


:r  /usr/share/procmail-lib/response-auto.txt

  Thanks for your mail about "How to Ask Questions the Smart Way".
  As a reminder, that essay suggests (generic) ways to ensure 
  you're asking technical questions in the right way, in the right place.

  People write back for one of two _very_ different reasons:

  o  Good reason:  Sending feedback/suggestions to help improve the essay.
  o  VERY BAD reason:  Asking essay co-author Rick Moen for technical help.

  Guess what?  99% of such mails are for the VERY BAD type of reason.  
  If you're about to do that, STOP.  Do something else.  Anything.
  Don't act like a moron:  Rick Moen is _not_ your personal, private
  helpdesk.

  The other 1% of you who want to discuss ways to improve "How to Ask Questions
  the Smart Way", thank you!  Please reach Rick at "rick at linuxmafia.com".

  This is an automated e-mail.  (Your mail has not reached a human.)
  All replies to this mail will be auto-discarded.

  Thanks! Mr. Autoresponder 


...and then decide to send a _second_ inquiry to my direct mailbox anyway.