[horde] [imp] default reply behavior in dimp/imp

[Michael M Slusarz]

Quoting Simon Brereton <simon.brereton at buongiorno.com>:

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: horde-bounces at lists.horde.org [mailto:horde-
>> bounces at lists.horde.org] On Behalf Of Brent
>
> <SNIP>
>> The problem is that most users know Outlook, and Outlook has a Reply
>> button which means "Reply to Sender".  That label/button is ingrained
>> into people...you can't change it.  So, when a Horde user sees a
>> "Reply" button, they will logically assume it is going to the person
>> that sent the message.  Sure, there is a pop-up that indicates what
>> is going to happen, but habits are hard to break.  I think there
>> should be another button like Outlook has for "Reply To All"; or if
>> you insist on the one-button-to-rule-them-all, make the button text
>> say something like "Reply To..." and force the user choose what they
>> want.
>>   I don't think any button with logic behind it should automatically
>> make a default selection, especially with a heated debate about what
>> the default should be.  Developers seem to like their feature, while
>> users/administrators want to change it.
>> >
>> >> wants to do and in my opinion everybody who do not realize the
>> >> difference between both should not use a computer at all
>> >
>> > You do realize that like 98% of computer users doesn't know the
>> > difference between forward or reply, don't you? Or even what *is*
>> the
>> > mailing list?
>>
>> And THIS is the reason for the default.  The Horde list people grew
>> tired of people hitting "Reply" and not having it go to the list and
>> then had to explain to the user how to use the list appropriately.  I
>> can deal with switching between email clients and an extra click to
>> do what I want, but most people don't pay attention, which is the
>> point you make above:  "98% of computer users doesn't know the
>> difference between forward or reply".
>>
>> I'm all for progress in the UI, and I personally don't mind the new
>> feature.  As as administrator, however, the change is actually quite
>> drastic and that's why people are asking for the previous behaviour.
>> It won't matter how much information you send out to your users
>> pimping the new features of the uber-Horde, the first time a high-
>> level exec hits "Reply" and says something disparaging to the sender
>> of the message and didn't notice it went out as "Reply to All"
>> who/what is going to be blamed?
>>
>> I think there's a Dilbert cartoon in there somewhere.
>
> I couldn't agree more.  I'm not sure that I personally care one way  
> or the other.  But I know users care a great deal (there's a Chief  
> Exec in the UK at the moment getting roasted because of an email he  
> replied-to-all when he wanted to forward it and he's using the  
> ridiculous defence that his account was hacked).  Not that this  
> would have prevented his stupidity.  But as an admin, I'd like to be  
> able to go into the configuration and set the default behaviour.  I  
> use IMP, Gnome, Gmail, Outlook,  Evolution and a couple of mobile  
> clients all day long and the two I find most annoying are the ones  
> with this behaviour.  Programmatically, it isn't difficult, and if I  
> had the skills, I'd patch it myself.  If the Horde team aren't  
> willing to compromise their principles, I can live with that - I  
> just hope someone can provide a patch.  But ultimately, I'd like to  
> see it as a configuration option.

As mentioned before, this is *not* something that can (or will) be a  
configuration option.  A blanket approach locking the reply button  
into the wrong behavior (e.g. Reply to Sender for a message with  
multiple recipients) is simply not acceptable.

michael

___________________________________
Michael Slusarz [slusarz at horde.org]