Maintaining Sanity with Filters

[Edward A. Dauer]

At one point during my time teaching law school some of my students suggested that drafting regulations when market forces are arrayed against you is like playing Whack-a-Mole.  Never having heard of it before, I looked into it.  Apparently Whack-a-Mole is generic for machines found in bars where graduate students go, in which the player whacks a plastic mole with a rubber mallet only to see another pop up from some other spot on the playing field.  I didn’t see much point in the game, then or now, other than as an outlet for educational frustration or just excess testosterone.  But the simile was apt.

Can a G-mail or any other filter really identify subjects whose name changes from time to time – notice that I changed the title of this thread by dropping just one word.  Or another example – in how many ways would I have to type title descriptions into a filter that would make it block posts that try to instruct Elecraft how to run its business?  Whack-a-Mole, indeed.   Conversely, are filters smart enough to allow through those posts that use the same name but whose contents have migrated to something actually worth reading?  My favorite example of that was an excruciatingly long thread a couple of years ago about using KX3s for communications on motorcycle club rides.  I couldn’t care less about the nominal subject – but I did learn a good deal about portable use of my KX3.   Ditto more recently for finding the right grounding point on a Chevy Silverado.  Gems of all sorts in that one.

My solution is to take the reflector not in individual e-mails but in the once or twice daily collected format, whatever that’s called, then do a quick speed-read to ID what interests me. I don’t even bother with the delete key.  For extreme cases the nudging of a human moderator usually helps a lot.  Works great.  

Maybe I am just not yet ready to trust AI to replicate my judgment.  Am I wrong in that?  After all, Whack-a-Mole is a good metaphor for the habit of being a Luddite too.

Ted, KN1CBR


    Message: 1
    Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2017 17:55:46 -0400
    From: Kevin der Kinderen <[hidden email]>
    To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector <[hidden email]>
    Subject: [Elecraft] Maintaining Sanity with Gmail Filters
    Message-ID:
    <[hidden email]>
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
   
    For those with Gmail, the only way I have found to reduce the amount of
    reflector emails that don't interest me is to set up a filter.
   
    The way I do this is to first do a search on the subject I'm no longer
    interested in: "K3S Package Discounts" for example. Then, beside the search
    field there's a little arrow you can click. The little popup has a "Create
    filter with this search" link at the bottom. Click this. The next popup
    lets you decide what to do with current and future emails that meet the
    criteria. I select mark as read and delete it. I wish it could do more with
    the emails but that's another matter. There's a Learn More link if you get
    stuck.
   
    You can filter on many other search criteria such as sender. That comes in
    very handy.
   
    It almost always works. Sometimes the subject changes a little and usually
    the digests where the subject is not changed make it through. I haven't
    found a better way but I'm open to suggestions. Unsubscribing means I lose
    out on some very relevant and otherwise interesting topics. Maybe another
    Elecraft list called Elecraft-BS or something?
   
    Hope some find this helpful. It does reduce the inane conversations that
    drag on for hours and days. You may be able to test it with the subject of
    this post. It is a perfect example.
   
    73,
    Kev K4VD
 

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[Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT-2]

There is a technology that will sort mail from sources like this list,
sort it accurately, and is easy to maintain.

The technology is called Naive Bayesian Filtering.  For 100 messages or
so, you classify incoming mail into whatever "bins" you want.

Once that's done, you check the bins once in a while, and only
reclassify the errors.

If you're really annoyed by off-topic mail, it'll do an awesome job of
filtering with very little work on your part (and not much thought, past
setting up the initial "bins.")

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POPFile>

I've used it, it works extremely well.  In IMAP-mode, it could even work
on web-based systems like GMail.

Since I'm not annoyed by off-topic mail (and often learn about things
I'd never considered) I just use the delete key.

73 -- Lynn

On 7/30/2017 1:41 PM, Dauer, Edward wrote:
> Can a G-mail or any other filter really identify subjects whose name changes from time to time – notice that I changed the title of this thread by dropping just one word.
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[Drew AF2Z]

It's quite easy to scan the subject lines of individual emails, sorted
by subject in a mail reader, and instantly deleted en masse if need be,
rather than plowing through a serial listing of random topics in a
digest; "speed reading" or no.

Also, with the tap of a key one can save the occasional interesting post
for future reference. Can't do that in a digest.

After all these years on the internet the only slight irritation I have
with email lists are subject lines such as "Question" or "How about
this", etc. I assume that when someone hasn't put any thought into the
subject line the rest of the post will not be worth reading. Such
non-specific topics usually get deleted without further inspection. I
don't mind off-topic posts at all if the subject line is descriptive of
the content. Most list traffic is "off topic" to my narrow individual
interests.

I enjoy quickly sorting the wheat from the chaff with a good mail
reader. It's the email equivalent of a good HF receiver. Both deal with
retrieving information from the noisy channel. Using a mail reader
effectively does require touch typing ability and familiarity with the
shortcut keys. If I had to do it by mouse clicking my way through each
individual message in turn, that would indeed be agonizing.

The only reason I read the current thread is because I thought the topic
was referring to receiver filters, not email filters. But maybe the
above will help.


73,
Drew
AF2Z




On 07/30/17 16:41, Dauer, Edward wrote:

> At one point during my time teaching law school some of my students suggested that drafting regulations when market forces are arrayed against you is like playing Whack-a-Mole.  Never having heard of it before, I looked into it.  Apparently Whack-a-Mole is generic for machines found in bars where graduate students go, in which the player whacks a plastic mole with a rubber mallet only to see another pop up from some other spot on the playing field.  I didn’t see much point in the game, then or now, other than as an outlet for educational frustration or just excess testosterone.  But the simile was apt.
>
> Can a G-mail or any other filter really identify subjects whose name changes from time to time – notice that I changed the title of this thread by dropping just one word.  Or another example – in how many ways would I have to type title descriptions into a filter that would make it block posts that try to instruct Elecraft how to run its business?  Whack-a-Mole, indeed.   Conversely, are filters smart enough to allow through those posts that use the same name but whose contents have migrated to something actually worth reading?  My favorite example of that was an excruciatingly long thread a couple of years ago about using KX3s for communications on motorcycle club rides.  I couldn’t care less about the nominal subject – but I did learn a good deal about portable use of my KX3.   Ditto more recently for finding the right grounding point on a Chevy Silverado.  Gems of all sorts in that one.
>
> My solution is to take the reflector not in individual e-mails but in the once or twice daily collected format, whatever that’s called, then do a quick speed-read to ID what interests me. I don’t even bother with the delete key.  For extreme cases the nudging of a human moderator usually helps a lot.  Works great.
>
> Maybe I am just not yet ready to trust AI to replicate my judgment.  Am I wrong in that?  After all, Whack-a-Mole is a good metaphor for the habit of being a Luddite too.
>
> Ted, KN1CBR
>
>
>      Message: 1
>      Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2017 17:55:46 -0400
>      From: Kevin der Kinderen <[hidden email]>
>      To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector <[hidden email]>
>      Subject: [Elecraft] Maintaining Sanity with Gmail Filters
>      Message-ID:
>       <[hidden email]>
>      Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>      
>      For those with Gmail, the only way I have found to reduce the amount of
>      reflector emails that don't interest me is to set up a filter.
>      
>      The way I do this is to first do a search on the subject I'm no longer
>      interested in: "K3S Package Discounts" for example. Then, beside the search
>      field there's a little arrow you can click. The little popup has a "Create
>      filter with this search" link at the bottom. Click this. The next popup
>      lets you decide what to do with current and future emails that meet the
>      criteria. I select mark as read and delete it. I wish it could do more with
>      the emails but that's another matter. There's a Learn More link if you get
>      stuck.
>      
>      You can filter on many other search criteria such as sender. That comes in
>      very handy.
>      
>      It almost always works. Sometimes the subject changes a little and usually
>      the digests where the subject is not changed make it through. I haven't
>      found a better way but I'm open to suggestions. Unsubscribing means I lose
>      out on some very relevant and otherwise interesting topics. Maybe another
>      Elecraft list called Elecraft-BS or something?
>      
>      Hope some find this helpful. It does reduce the inane conversations that
>      drag on for hours and days. You may be able to test it with the subject of
>      this post. It is a perfect example.
>      
>      73,
>      Kev K4VD
>  
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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[Bob Steding]

And here I thought this thread was about Roofing *filters and their
potential to harm a ham's mental stability.*

On Sun, Jul 30, 2017 at 6:45 PM, Drew AF2Z <[hidden email]> wrote:

> It's quite easy to scan the subject lines of individual emails, sorted by
> subject in a mail reader, and instantly deleted en masse if need be, rather
> than plowing through a serial listing of random topics in a digest; "speed
> reading" or no.
>
> Also, with the tap of a key one can save the occasional interesting post
> for future reference. Can't do that in a digest.
>
> After all these years on the internet the only slight irritation I have
> with email lists are subject lines such as "Question" or "How about this",
> etc. I assume that when someone hasn't put any thought into the subject
> line the rest of the post will not be worth reading. Such non-specific
> topics usually get deleted without further inspection. I don't mind
> off-topic posts at all if the subject line is descriptive of the content.
> Most list traffic is "off topic" to my narrow individual interests.
>
> I enjoy quickly sorting the wheat from the chaff with a good mail reader.
> It's the email equivalent of a good HF receiver. Both deal with retrieving
> information from the noisy channel. Using a mail reader effectively does
> require touch typing ability and familiarity with the shortcut keys. If I
> had to do it by mouse clicking my way through each individual message in
> turn, that would indeed be agonizing.
>
> The only reason I read the current thread is because I thought the topic
> was referring to receiver filters, not email filters. But maybe the above
> will help.
>
>
> 73,
> Drew
> AF2Z
>
>
>
>
>
> On 07/30/17 16:41, Dauer, Edward wrote:
>
>> At one point during my time teaching law school some of my students
>> suggested that drafting regulations when market forces are arrayed against
>> you is like playing Whack-a-Mole.  Never having heard of it before, I
>> looked into it.  Apparently Whack-a-Mole is generic for machines found in
>> bars where graduate students go, in which the player whacks a plastic mole
>> with a rubber mallet only to see another pop up from some other spot on the
>> playing field.  I didn’t see much point in the game, then or now, other
>> than as an outlet for educational frustration or just excess testosterone.
>> But the simile was apt.
>>
>> Can a G-mail or any other filter really identify subjects whose name
>> changes from time to time – notice that I changed the title of this thread
>> by dropping just one word.  Or another example – in how many ways would I
>> have to type title descriptions into a filter that would make it block
>> posts that try to instruct Elecraft how to run its business?  Whack-a-Mole,
>> indeed.   Conversely, are filters smart enough to allow through those posts
>> that use the same name but whose contents have migrated to something
>> actually worth reading?  My favorite example of that was an excruciatingly
>> long thread a couple of years ago about using KX3s for communications on
>> motorcycle club rides.  I couldn’t care less about the nominal subject –
>> but I did learn a good deal about portable use of my KX3.   Ditto more
>> recently for finding the right grounding point on a Chevy Silverado.  Gems
>> of all sorts in that one.
>>
>> My solution is to take the reflector not in individual e-mails but in the
>> once or twice daily collected format, whatever that’s called, then do a
>> quick speed-read to ID what interests me. I don’t even bother with the
>> delete key.  For extreme cases the nudging of a human moderator usually
>> helps a lot.  Works great.
>>
>> Maybe I am just not yet ready to trust AI to replicate my judgment.  Am I
>> wrong in that?  After all, Whack-a-Mole is a good metaphor for the habit of
>> being a Luddite too.
>>
>> Ted, KN1CBR
>>
>>
>>      Message: 1
>>      Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2017 17:55:46 -0400
>>      From: Kevin der Kinderen <[hidden email]>
>>      To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector <[hidden email]>
>>      Subject: [Elecraft] Maintaining Sanity with Gmail Filters
>>      Message-ID:
>>         <CAFA9ujtvMzU_F035NtDTJwpiTyQ635EpbwpjCpCaifeQaOO1oA@mail.
>> gmail.com>
>>      Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>>           For those with Gmail, the only way I have found to reduce the
>> amount of
>>      reflector emails that don't interest me is to set up a filter.
>>           The way I do this is to first do a search on the subject I'm no
>> longer
>>      interested in: "K3S Package Discounts" for example. Then, beside the
>> search
>>      field there's a little arrow you can click. The little popup has a
>> "Create
>>      filter with this search" link at the bottom. Click this. The next
>> popup
>>      lets you decide what to do with current and future emails that meet
>> the
>>      criteria. I select mark as read and delete it. I wish it could do
>> more with
>>      the emails but that's another matter. There's a Learn More link if
>> you get
>>      stuck.
>>           You can filter on many other search criteria such as sender.
>> That comes in
>>      very handy.
>>           It almost always works. Sometimes the subject changes a little
>> and usually
>>      the digests where the subject is not changed make it through. I
>> haven't
>>      found a better way but I'm open to suggestions. Unsubscribing means
>> I lose
>>      out on some very relevant and otherwise interesting topics. Maybe
>> another
>>      Elecraft list called Elecraft-BS or something?
>>           Hope some find this helpful. It does reduce the inane
>> conversations that
>>      drag on for hours and days. You may be able to test it with the
>> subject of
>>      this post. It is a perfect example.
>>           73,
>>      Kev K4VD
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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