"Use The Difficulty!" One of my favorite actors, Michael Caine, is attributed with a quote that has guided my career and life for the past several years >>> “I was rehearsing a play, and there was a scene that went on before me, then I had to come in the door. They rehearsed the scene, and one of the actors had thrown a chair at the other one. It landed right in front of the door where I came in. I opened the door and then rather lamely, I said to the producer who was sitting out in the stalls,’Well, look, I can’t get in. There’s a chair in my way.’ He said,’Well, use the difficulty.’ So I said ‘What do you mean, use the difficulty?’ He said ‘Well, if it’s a drama, pick it up and smash it. If it’s a comedy, fall over it.’ This was a line for me for life: Always use the difficulty." [snip] >>> I Believe That The Time Has Come To "Use The Difficulty" >>> As many know, listservs and discussion e-lists have overlapping/ related scope >>> E.G. > IMHO > Asis-l > General ASIS mail list & announcements ASIS&T brings together diverse streams of knowledge, focusing what might be disparate approaches into novel solutions to common problems. ASIS&T bridges the gaps not only between disciplines but also between the research that drives and the practices that sustain new developments. [snip] LITA-L > LITA-L is an unmediated on-line discussion group for those interested in all aspects of information technology, particularly as they apply to libraries and information services, to exchange information, ask questions, and post employment opportunities and other announcements. Anyone with an email address may subscribe. [snip] Web4Lib-L The Web4Lib electronic discussion is for the discussion of issues relating to the creation, management, and support of library-based World-Wide Web servers, services, and applications. [snip] As result, while some will subscribe only to what s/he considers *Most Relevant* to his / her personal / professional interests, others will subscribe to any / all that are considered relevant in order to be as fully aware of developments of actual or potential interest. Observation > Some Have A Broad Perspective On Issues, Others Do Not. As a result, those who subscribe to lists with related / similar scope will receive duplicate postings. Although less common now [?], with the explosion of listservs and other discussion e-lists beginning in the 1990s, it was standard for a posting to have the heading >>> "Apologies For Duplicate Postings" I later modified the header to state >>> "Apologies For Receipt Of Duplicate Postings" IMHO > Similar But Not Really > I ceased including either heading at the recommendation of a well-respected information scientist a few years ago >>> For many / some receiving duplicate postings is a major annoyance that only further overloads their Information Overload [:-)] For others, the 'Delete' is routinely used >> > Some / others make use of the filtering functions in their respective e-mail system ... Still others engage in personal / professional attacks ; criticisms of the poster [:-(] for posting on a discussion list >>> Aren't They 'Discussion' Lists? [:-)] It has occurred to me that we have not significantly developed or lobbied for a DeDup function in e-mail services such that identical postings are either Blocked or Junked. BTW: As many know A DeDup or Remove Duplicate(s) function has been available in databases for many years, and has become even more importance in Federated / Discovey services >>> As a result of a non-exhautive Google search, I've several DeDup technologies >>> > 1-Click Duplicate Delete [snip] Deduper - Duplicate Remover for Microsoft® Outlook® [snip] Duplicate Email Remover 2.15.3 [snip] IMHO: A DeDup Feature /Function Must / Should Be An Integral / Integrated Component Of All E-Mail Systems > Without Additional Cost !!! Let The Lobbying Begin >>> How About It ? Bill ; Eric ; Etc. >>> And BTW> The Major Library-Related Listserv/ Discussion Services (ALA, IFLA, JISC, SLA, ETC.) Should Implement A DeDup Function ASAP >>> IMHO > If Such A Function Currently Exists, It Should Be Widely Promoted >>> BTW: ] I Did Do A Non-Exhaustive Search But Did Not Find Such A Function [?] [ But ... It Could Be Me Or Our Recent Flood [:-(] Let The Conservations Continue >>> "Use The Difficulty" / The Time Has Come !!! Please Post Your Reactions / Suggestions / Thoughts / Etc. As A Comment At ] http://bit.ly/clvR2g [ Thanks A Million ! Joy !!! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 Follow Me On Twitter > http://twitter.com/GMcKBlogs "There Is Nothing More Powerful Than An Idea Whose Time Has Come!" / Victor Hugo [ http://bit.ly/b2i4Yl ]