lien@osu-eddie.UUCP (02/19/87)
From: Yao-Nan Lien <lien> Thanks for all who tries to help me on this issue. From all the responses we have seen, we can conclude that a user should be more careful since there is no 'undo' feature for E-mail once a '^D' is typed. As a user, I believe that this kind of mistake may be inevitable. Human being makes error, isn't it? I believe it is important and serious for the following reasons: 1. E-mail is getting more important than before in a computer system. Take me as a case. Writing paper, E-mail, USENET communication are my major computer activity. This may not be true for super users, but it may be true for many regular users. 2. It is serious since no 'undo' function is provided. Some people may say that 'rm *' is more serious than making mistake in a E-mail. But, we have backup system to reduce its damage. People invent backup system but not undo function for mail is simply because E-mail wasn't an important function long time ago. Now, things are changing. It is time for us to redefine the desired functions for regular users. So, I am suggesting to take this into consideration for the future OS design. Nothing is perfect. There is no complete solution for this problem. Let's see how much we can do first. 1. The theoretical latest time that one can withdraw letters from his own mailbox is the time the mailman comes. For those who use apartment shared mailbox, this time is much earlier. One can only do it before he drop the letters into the mailbox. 2. This theoretical latest time on computer system (local or remote) is the time right before the receiver read it. 3. With the help of super user, the latest time in current UNIX system is the time before it is sent out to other net or the time it is read by the receiver if it is local. (Am I right?) 4. Without any help, the latest time is the time one hits '^D'. In the future system, what is the latest time for a regular user? Can we try to extend it to the theoretical upper bound? What is the difficulty? Is it worth to do? Yao-Nan Lien
bob@osu-eddie.UUCP (02/19/87)
In article <3152@osu-eddie.UUCP> lien@osu-eddie.UUCP writes: >3. With the help of super user, the latest time in current > UNIX system is the time before it is sent out to other net > or the time it is read by the receiver if it is local. I understand that it is illegal in the US for me to physically take an envelope out of another person's mailbox once the postman has delivered it, even if I was the one that sent it to him. By analogy, it is unethical for me to to edit /usr/spool/mail/recipient, even if I am able (as superuser), regardless of whether I sent it or not. -- Bob Sutterfield, Department of Computer and Information Science The Ohio State University; 2036 Neil Ave. Columbus OH USA 43210-1277 bob@ohio-state.{arpa,csnet} or ...!cb{osgd,att}!osu-eddie!bob (614) 292 - 0915 or (614) 292 - 5813
ken@rochester.UUCP (02/20/87)
Unfortunately the problem is that nowadays the lower and upper bound can be close. In the case of the Internet, sometimes the recipient gets the mail within seconds of posting. If you are willing to increase the lower bound, why not just make a program that puts the mail in your private directory and sends it off after N minutes, while you reconsider. Or set dot in Mail, so that it takes . <cr> instead of just ^D to post. People should be more careful with email, that's all. Ken
ggs@ulysses.UUCP (02/20/87)
In article <3152@osu-eddie.UUCP>, lien@osu-eddie.UUCP writes: > Thanks for all who tries to help me on this issue. > From all the responses we have seen, we can conclude that > a user should be more careful since there is no 'undo' feature > for E-mail once a '^D' is typed. I think all the discussion about the post office and mail boxes is a bit off the mark. As of the above comment, I see his problem: the mail interface is not friendly. It's too easy to let the letter slip out of your fingers into the mail box. So try "mh" if you can find a copy. When you think you're done, you exit your favorite editor and then answer a question about what you want to do with the letter. Only after you say "send" does it go out the door. -- Griff Smith AT&T (Bell Laboratories), Murray Hill Phone: 1-201-582-7736 UUCP: {allegra|ihnp4}!ulysses!ggs Internet: ggs@ulysses.uucp
lrj@batcomputer.UUCP (02/20/87)
In article <25011@rochester.ARPA> ken@rochester.UUCP (SKY) writes: >Or set dot in Mail, so that it takes . <cr> instead of just ^D to post. > >People should be more careful with email, that's all. > > Ken I have Mail set to ask for a CC after finishing the text of the message, and before sending. The user can ^C at this point to abort the mail. I believe it's a matter of setting 'askcc' in your .mailrc For anything but a quick, one-line letter, i use MH (Mail Handler). It's a nice system -- a lot safer that Mail.. :^) Anyone know of a 'port of MM (Mail Manager?) from TOPS-20 to Un*x? Now THAT was a nice system... -- -- Lewis R. Jansen, LASSP Systems Grunt lrj@lasspvax.tn.cornell.edu ...!cornell!lasspvax!lrj