From: phantomsteve@hotmail.com   
      
   Stephen C. Smith entertained (or was it annoyed?) us all in this wee   
   chronicle:   
      
   > ... if you want to pose a question to Joe Straczynski, the rule is   
   > to preface the message title with "ATTN JMS". Joe established this   
   > practice years ago because his e-mail was getting flooded with   
   > general questions asked over and over.  He asked that his e-mail   
   > address be used only for sensitive questions inappropriate for a   
   > public venue.   
   >   
   > Recently I had a dustup with a certain person on that board who   
   > chose to answer an "ATTN JMS" message herself.  Now, to me "ATTN   
   > JMS" means "ATTN JMS," not "ATTN Anyone Who Wants to Jump In and   
   > Interrupt."  In my opinion, this would be like my opening my   
   > neighbor's mailbox, rifling through the letters, and choosing to   
   > answer some of her correspondence myself.   
   >   
   > I said the question was for Joe, not for this person, but it seems   
   > the custom over there is for people to jump in and intrude.  I   
   > disagree.  I would never think to answer one of Joe's messages for   
   > him.  But apparently quite a few people over there think they have   
   > the right to speak for Joe.   
      
   Stephen, the "Attn JMS" is indeed a way to show that it is a question   
   aimed at JMS himself, but remember that this is UseNet - not private   
   mail. The whole idea of Usenet is that it is a public noticeboard where   
   anyone can reply to any message.   
      
   That means that anyone can express their opinion or knowledge - and I   
   can't recall ever seeing JMS saying "please, don't respond to anything   
   with the subject 'ATTN JMS'".   
      
   I believe that your analogy to rifling through your neighbour's mailbox   
   and answering some of her correspondence yourself is not totally   
   accurate.   
      
   The situation is more like a notice board with a note at the top saying   
   "please feel free to comment on anything on this noticeboard". If I put   
   up a note "FAO: Stephen" and someone else chooses to make a comment, I   
   can't be surprised. If I want it to be private correspondence with only   
   your reply, I'll not put it on a public notice board... I'd post it   
   through your letter box.   
      
   If you truly only want JMS to reply, email him - then if it is   
   something which you feel the rest of us need to know, get his   
   permission then post it. Or alternatively, he can decide to post it if   
   he thinks it is a good question which he feels needs a wider audience,   
   although he would then ask your permission I would assume.   
      
   Regards,   
   Steve   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)