Re: Rewriting the subject (Was: [sgnus v0.83] Followup Subject: typos in message.el (patch))

[Greg Stark <gsstark@MIT.EDU>]

Well the question is, given that i am replying to a message with
Subject: Re[145]: re^4: WORD TOTALLY RO=?ISO-X-666?ABNSAGHS?=OOLZ!!!!!!!!! -reply

Do we really want to construct the new header as:
Subject: Re: Re[145]: re^4: ...

It seems we're only making the problem worse, the header is now even further
from the structure intended by the RFCs.  To some degree i sympathize with
Lars' argument about strengthening the standards, but unless you expect those
packages to actually go away rather than spread it doesn't matter.  I expect
rather than strengthen the standards, we would only make those authors claim,
"well look what happens when people strictly follow the standards; standards
 restrict my ability to support cool new features and make stupid headers like
 these."

And now, what if i write a hook to do my "manual" rewriting of the Subject
automatically, is that ok? What if Lars wrote it? What's the difference?
I don't think you can change the world by making life harder on other
packages, you can make life easier by demonstrating what headers are supposed
to look like.


Greg