[news.software.b] Proliferation of "Re^n:" in subject lines

mcb@ncis.tis.llnl.gov (Michael C. Berch) (07/02/89)

Over the last week or so I've noticed the proliferation of subject
lines beginning with "Re^n:", as in 

	Subject: Re^6: Flag burning

where "6" corresponds to the number of articles in the thread, at
least according to the References: line.  I assume this is no
coincidence, and since these articles were posted by a number of
different people at different sites, I presume there's software
involved (or else a vast conspiracy).   

Is this a C news-ism?  A TMNN-ism?  All I knows is that it breaks 
rn followups, which end up as 

	Subject: Re: Re^6: Flag burning

unless fixed in the editor.   Curious.

--
Michael C. Berch  
mcb@tis.llnl.gov / uunet!tis.llnl.gov!mcb