This issue has been raised before because some members have been annoyed that they get barraged with so many postings from the eGroup that they are not interested in. I raise it again because today I got a personal admonishment from one member that I am inconsiderate by making posts to the eGroup that should go to a particular individual. In my defense I don't think I really do that evry much and several members have complimented me on my posts. So I think there is usually general interest. Also I think these members have remedies at their disposal if they don't want to get some of these email. I am sure that I am irritating some of them even further by starting this post. But i do think it is a problem for very active eGroups such as ours and so I raise it anyway.
I agree that there is an option to send a message only to the individual that you are responding to. Also we should exercise that option when it is clear that it is very specific to that individual and would not benefit others. However there is also a gray area where the message could be of interest to others. I prefer to err on the side of being informative.
I am a busy person too and I don't like "junk" email either. Also I belong to several eGroups and don't feel that I get a lot of annoying emails. I tend to do a quick read and then delete even for some that interest me and for other that make me think of a reason to respond, I respond and sometimes my response can be lengthy.
Let's all be considerate, but those complaining have other options that we have previously discussed and they should use them rather than rudely tell us that we are being rude.
-------------------------------------------
Michael Chernick
Director of Biostatistical Services
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
-------------------------------------------