[SML] Names on list messages (was Re: mailing list new beginning? and Re: Thank you Noah! and Re: New list?? Thank U Noah!!)

[Noah Price]

Joe Golden wrote:
> This is great, but half the emails I have seen I don't know who
> they are from now that the list strips the senders name from the
> "From" field. 

Jim Vogel wrote:
> Michael, the name on your email is interesting... "My Gmail". 
> Is it picking up the account name?

Dave Vick wrote:
> I'll also say I'm not liking not being able to see who sent a
> given message to the server until I open it... Assuming the author
> signed it.

The "From" line in the individual list messages does include the person's name, such as:
From: "Dave Vick via Stagecraft" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>

Most mail programs show that quoted portion as the "From."

Not sure if Gmail is getting in the way somehow, but others with Gmail seem to see the names properly.

For those using Thunderbird, if you have the Stagecraft address in your address book that may be overriding. You want to go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and uncheck "Show only display name for people in my address book."

That name comes from:
1) the From line of the sent email, or
2) if there is no name with the address on the email, it comes from the list member info, or
3) if there is no name in the membership info, it uses the name portion of the email address.

Most members do have their real name in the membership info, and I skimmed over and cleaned up format and capitalization to try to make that more readable. But I didn't add names that were not obvious from the listed email address. I'm sure we'd all appreciate it if any members who do not have their name listed would please go in and update that! It currently only matters if you don't have a name in your email program, but I'm looking for a simple change to always use the list member information since that seems easier to keep accurate and consistent.

My comment about the iPhone not displaying the sender was based on an older version. Now, any program that provides the name should show you something reasonable.

Noah