The mailing list for listmasters using Sympa

[Patrick Rynhart <address@concealed>]

On 11/12/2013 2:29 a.m., David Verdin wrote:
>

> Ahrm...
>
> "It's a feature, not a bug"...
>
> Sorry about that...
>
> May I be so bold as to suggest a kind of consensus between your point of
> views?
>
> Sympa allows o subscribe users to not-yet-activated lists indeed. This
> was a long time feature request. The idea behind this is to allow people
> to start using their list on a minimum level (configuring, preapring the
> list of subscribers, etc.).

Thanks - I wasn't aware of this history.  And to Steve & yourself - 
excuse my "it's a feature not a bug" line.  In hindsight, probably not 
necessary (although I note that it has generated some discussion!) ;-).

> The flaw here is that subscribers receive mails that state they were
> subscribed to a list that does not exist yet AND that could potentially
> offend them (what if you're a dog and you receive a message stating that
> you've just been subscribed to the "cat-world-domination" mailing list?).

Agree - my concern was that there's no approval / review of a list name 
before you can start subscribing people.

> It is equally offending to receive a mail from a list that you didn't
> know you were subscribed to. It is therefore unconceivable on my opinion
> not to warn people about the fact that they were subscribed.
> I propose two things that, when somebody is subscribed to an inactive
> list, the message is different, insisting on the fact that the list is
> not active yet and tehy will not be sent message before the list is
> validated,

Maybe the same underlying "welcome" template could be used, but just 
with the following text (or similar) appended:

"Note: This list has not yet been reviewed by a Sympa listmaster.  Until 
this happens you won't be able to post to this list, the list name may 
change, or the list may be rejected.  You will, however, receive 
follow-up emails advising if and when any such changes occur."

> What do you think about this proposal?

Yes - I think this would be a good solution (which avoids needing to 
break any of the existing behaviour).

A couple of "triggers" would need to be added, i.e. any 
"pre-subscribers" (subscribers added before the list is activated / 
rejected) would need to be emailed:

1. When a list is approved / rejected.
2. If the name of the list subsequently is changed.

With regard to #2, this is actually what happened in our live instance. 
 Someone proposed something along the lines of "cat-world-domination" 
and started subscribing people.  Then our Service Desk got in touch with 
the requester, and said why not change the list name to 
"we-love-both-cats-and-dogs".  Meanwhile people had already started 
*trying* to posting to "cat-world-domination"....

For this reason, I think the event triggers are necessary.

With Thanks,

Patrick Rynhart

> Cheers,
>
> David
> > For the case you're subscribing, it sounds as though an additional
> > "state" is needed after approval but before the list becomes active.
> > Something like "list ready to be populated but not yet live".
> >
> > It seems to me that you shouldn't be able to start subscribing people
> > to lists which may be rejected by a listmaster, or may need to be
> > renamed.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Patrick
> >
> >
> > --
> > A bug in Sympa? Quick! To the bug tracker!
> > <https://sourcesup.renater.fr/tracker/?group_id=23>
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