X-Message-Number: 12523
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 10:14:52 -0700
From: Tim Freeman <>
Subject: Reading cryonet quickly and peacefully

Here's a quick technique I use to skip over cryonet messages I don't
want to read.

Rule 1: If the subject doesn't say what it's about, skip it.
Rule 2: If the subject mentions someone's name, skip it.

I learned rule 2 from years of reading netnews.  The principle is that
tit-for-tat arguments really aren't interesting except for the
participants.  For example, applying these heuristics to the most
recent cryonet gives this:

I skiped the following:

    #12516: Re: CryoNet #12503 - #12504 [John W Perry]
    #12517: for Doug Skrecky, about the future [Thomas Donaldson]
    #12518: to Charles Platt, if he's listening [Thomas Donaldson]

The next one passed rule 1 but failed rule 2.  I gave it the benefit
of the doubt and read it:

    #12519: Joseph1 had a good idea about meetings [Thomas Donaldson]

The next one passed the tests, but I didn't read it because the
subject line says all I need to know.  (Thanks, Doug, for doing a good
job with your subject lines.)


    #12520: diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is relatively nontoxic [Doug 
    Skrecky]

-- 
Tim Freeman       
            http://www.infoscreen.com/resume.html
Web-centered Java, Perl, and C++ programming in Silicon Valley or offsite

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