Errors-to: owner-drums@CS.UTK.EDU
Message-Id: <199508252159.RAA26189@CS.UTK.EDU>
To: drums@CS.UTK.EDU
From: "Roger Fajman" <RAF@CU.NIH.GOV>
Date:     Fri, 25 Aug 1995  17:58:51 EDT
Subject:  re:  From the Chair:  the Reply-To issue

> On Fri, 25 Aug 1995 15:19:25 -0400, Keith Moore wrote:
> > My estimate of what we have rough concensus on is as follows:
> >
> > [ ] reply-to is primarily intended to allow the original
> >     author of the message to state his preference as to where
> >     replies to this message should be sent
>
> Agree, if modified as follows:
> [ ] reply-to allows the original author of the message to state
>     his preference as to where replies to this message should be sent.
>     If a Reply-To address is present, the From address should NOT
>     be sent a reply.
>
> Delete "primarily intended" (which is the cause of the flaming), and emphasize
> that From is not used in reply in this case.
>
> I would argue for the following, which I would call "version 2":
> [ ] reply-to in a message indicates where replies to this message
>     should be sent.
>     If a Reply-To address is present, the From address should NOT
>     be sent a reply.

I can't agree with this as stated, but I'd agree if it were restated
as "If a Reply-to address is present, the From address should not be
sent a reply, unless the user sending the reply requests it."
That is, sending a reply to both Reply-to and From should not be
default behavior.

> > [ ] while a UA SHOULD respect reply-to when generating replies,
> >     in practice, recipients can reply to anyone they want to.
>
> Better:
> [ ] a UA SHOULD use reply-to when generating replies, and SHOULD NOT
>     use From.  A UA MAY also use To and cc when generating replies,
>     but this SHOULD NOT be the default behavior.
>     In practice, recipients can reply to anyone they want to.

I can't agree with this.  A UA should be allowed in include the From
address as an option that the user may actively select.  In the
presence of Reply-to, using From should not be the default, but it
should be allowed.