Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status)

From	Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.python
Subject	Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status)
Date	2015-12-22 07:58 +1100
Message-ID	<mailman.41.1450731548.2237.python-list@python.org> (permalink)
References	<mailman.4.1450632635.2237.python-list@python.org> <3883651.fOIMIIEhYO@PointedEars.de> <mailman.7.1450648598.2237.python-list@python.org> <2062582.Z8LLNUJk5W@PointedEars.de> <CALwzid=kjCWng_ZoOmS_+LP9m7oD9hMRY9y=qJ5=R1v=+nH8HA@mail.gmail.com>

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Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> writes:

> Better yet, please don't change the Subject header for trivial reasons
> in the first place.

When the subject of the ongoing discussion changes, it's normal to
change the Subject field accordingly.

I agree with your admonition against trivial alterations to that field;
I hope you agree with me that it is not trivial, but rather is normal
and helpful, to update the Subject field to track significant changes in
the subject of the discussion.

> This isn't just a Usenet group; it's also a mailing list, and many
> MUAs rely on the Subject header for proper threading.

If such MUAs do that, they're misinterpreting the Subject field. Other
fields are available with the explicit meaning of relating messages to
each other regardless of what they discuss.

If the correct fields are being mangled, then the correct place to apply
pressure is on those who can fix that error. Let's not overload the
Subject field to make up the lack.

-- 
 \           “Self-respect: The secure feeling that no one, as yet, is |
  `\                                    suspicious.” —Henry L. Mencken |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney

Thread

How to ignore error with anon-zero exit status Ganesh Pal <ganesh1pal@gmail.com> - 2015-12-20 23:00 +0530
  Ignore error with non-zero exit status (was: How to ignore error with anon-zero exit status) Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-20 22:22 +0100
    Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status (was: How to ignore error with anon-zero exit status) Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-12-21 08:56 +1100
      Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-20 23:46 +0100
        Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-12-21 10:09 +1100
          Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 08:51 +0100
            Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-12-21 12:58 +0000
              Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 14:19 +0100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-12-22 00:23 +1100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 15:05 +0100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-12-22 01:11 +1100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 15:19 +0100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-12-21 16:07 +0000
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 23:30 +0100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2015-12-21 11:30 -0500
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 23:27 +0100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-12-22 10:32 +1100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2015-12-21 18:53 -0500
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-22 13:17 +0100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-12-22 11:05 +1100
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-12-21 17:17 -0700
                Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-12-22 11:25 +1100
        Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-12-21 13:30 -0700
        Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-12-22 07:58 +1100
        Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-12-21 14:16 -0700
          Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Jon Ribbens <jon+usenet@unequivocal.co.uk> - 2015-12-21 21:44 +0000
            Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 23:55 +0100
            Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-12-22 10:14 +1100
              Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Jon Ribbens <jon+usenet@unequivocal.co.uk> - 2015-12-21 23:24 +0000
                Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-12-21 16:57 -0700
                Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Tim Chase <python.list@tim.thechases.com> - 2015-12-22 09:56 -0600
              Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Cameron Simpson <cs@zip.com.au> - 2015-12-22 14:36 +1100
              Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2015-12-21 23:22 -0500
                Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-22 13:26 +0100
              Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2015-12-22 15:17 +0000
                Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-12-22 08:28 -0700
                Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2015-12-22 22:32 +0000
        Re: Meaning and purpose of the Subject field (was: Ignore error with non-zero exit status) Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2015-12-21 16:55 -0500
    Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status (was: How to ignore error with anon-zero exit status) Ganesh Pal <ganesh1pal@gmail.com> - 2015-12-21 08:22 +0530
      Re: Ignore error with non-zero exit status Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2015-12-21 08:54 +0100

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