[Mailman-Users] short question, probably an FAQ that I've overlooked.

[Brad Knowles]

At 7:50 PM -0500 2005-06-02, Larry Stone wrote:

>  Brad, I realize this is getting a little off of Mailman but how is that
>  different from what a BCC does? A BCC "header" is local to the originating
>  MUA - it doesn't appear in the transmitted message but the BCC recipients do
>  become envelope recipients. So from the view of the MTA, isn't what you say
>  Mailman does exactly the same as what the MUA does with a BCC?

	Well, "Bcc:" is a header.  Mailman never uses a "Bcc:" header. 
In terms of the implementation, by listing multiple envelope 
recipients, there is no practical difference.


	The technical difference is that a "Bcc:" header is something 
that would typically be added by an MUA, but an MUA wouldn't know 
enough about the SMTP protocol in order to be able to provide 
multiple envelope recipients directly.  In this case, it's up to the 
MTA to take the "Bcc:" header and interpret those contents 
appropriately.

	However, Mailman does know enough about the SMTP protocol that it 
can by-pass the use of a "Bcc:" header, and go straight to listing 
multiple envelope recipients.


	The difference is akin to putting a stamp on an envelope and 
putting that in the mailbox yourself, or going down to the post 
office with a letter in-hand and paying to have the person at the 
window put the stamp onto the letter and put the envelope into the 
bag.

	Do you understand how to put a stamp onto an envelope and where 
the stamp goes, how many stamps of what kind to use for what type of 
mail you're sending and how much it weighs, and do you have a ready 
supply of the appropriate stamps at your disposal?

-- 
Brad Knowles, <brad at stop.mail-abuse.org>

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

     -- Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), reply of the Pennsylvania
     Assembly to the Governor, November 11, 1755

   SAGE member since 1995.  See <http://www.sage.org/> for more info.