[conspire] Looking for updated netiquette advice

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Syeed Ali (syeedali at syeedali.com):

> Now that I'm kind of around on a few mailing lists, I'd like a refresher
> on netiquette.
[...]
> In particular, sometimes I get inspired by someone, and I want to
> respond to the topic, the ideas, or a sentence, and not necessarily to
> the person, and yet I want to quote and reference the inspiration.
> 
> Sometimes I don't want those quoted to perceive that I'm responding to
> and engaging them.  I feel that when I'm quoted I'm being invited into
> a sort of sub-thread, and I myself don't necessarily want to illicit
> that in others.

I would expect no less, but:  Interesting question, sir.  

That is a specialised enough fine point that it's unlikely to find it
covered in standard pieces on netiquette such as the old and sadly
disregarded RFCs, and I'm mystified about what would be a fruitful
search strategy (if casting one's net wider than standard texts).  

It occurs to me, though, that maybe what you need is a reasonably subtle
and indirect paraphrase -- artfully used in a thread you create with no
visible connection or reference to the older thread.

Or, if you want to be less coy, just address the topic you're interested
in afresh, and don't refer even indirectly to the other thread.

> I love essay-rants too, but there are often rabbit holes, e.g.:
> http://xahlee.info/Netiquette_dir/troll.html

As Mr. Lincoln is reported to have said, that's the kind of thing that
will be enjoyed by those who enjoy that kind of thing.  ;->

-- 
Cheers,                     "Facebook: Removing the dot from .com since 2021."
Rick Moen                   -- Deirdre Saoirse Moen
rick at linuxmafia.com
McQ! (4x80)