On 14/04/2015 11:59 pm, Phillip Hallam-Baker wrote:
OK so like most folk, I see no point in redoing the mail system. Or
rather I didn't till I sent a message without an attachment. Then it
hit me. There is only one feature that is powerful enough to justify
a whole new mail protocol and it is the ability to change a message
after it is 'sent' but before it is read.
For all of SMTP's faults, and there are many, not adjusting for user
error in hitting "send" at an inappropriate juncture is *not* amongst
them. The recall or burn option included in some email servers
(e.g. MS Exchange) is not something worth encouraging. In part, as
others have said, because it relies upon the complicity of the
receiving server, but also because it lends itself towards abuse. The
classic case (and I have seen this in action) is a manager of some
company issuing an instruction to a subordinate, subsequently deleting
the message and the subordinate left carrying the can regarding an
action which was apparently "unauthorised".
If a feature of your mail system can get someone fired, or even jailed,
then that's not a feature - it's a law suit in waiting.
Implementing this would require a complete break with SMTP.
Well, SMTP is certainly living up to its name in application: it is
simple.
Regards,
Ben
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