Errors-to: owner-drums@CS.UTK.EDU
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 1995 13:24:50 +0200 (MET DST)
From: Jacob Palme <jpalme@dsv.su.se>
To: ietf-drums <drums@CS.UTK.EDU>
Subject: Does "References:" form threads?
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By a thread I mean a series of messages which are related together
forming a common discussion or conversation. Many mail systems
have facilities for scanning a thread, printing out a thread,
copying a thread to a file etc.

It is obvious to me that the "In-Reply-To:", "Obsoletes:" and
"Supersedes:" heading fields form threads, i.e. that two document
related through these kinds of links will belong to a common
thread.

However, what about "References:"?

As "References:" is commonly used in Usenet News, it obviously
does form thread.

If, however, "References:" is used in the way you prepare
a list of references at the end of a scientific paper, then
"References:" does not form a thread, at least not for all
the referenced items.

Question 1: Should we clarify this in the drums document?
I think we should, since agreement of the concept of a thread
between different client software will make it easier for
users to communicate.

Question 2: Should "References:" form threads? My suggestion
is that it should, since compatbility between e-mail and
Usenet News is desirable, and since e-mail is not very
much used for scientific paper dissemination.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacob Palme <jpalme@dsv.su.se> (Stockholm University and KTH)
for more info see URL: http://www.dsv.su.se/~jpalme