>I don't see why searching listserv archives can't be as simple as writing
 
>search <desiredword> in <listname>
 
>Why should it have to be more complicated? What good is all of that
>extra coding?
 
I can't give a great answer since I did not design it.  BUT, thinking
of a similar question: why can't calling long distance through an
alternative long distance carrier be as simple as my calling across
campus using a 5-digit extension?
 
Answer: because there are more than 10 000 phones in the world.
 
LISTSERV does more than SEARCH.  Search enters a mode of operation
different than just a single one-line command.  This makes life (and
LISTSERV) more complicated.  That's why a bit-brain like me maintains a
template that I just copy/cut/paste.  It saves relearning the
idosyncracies/tricks and is extremely effective.
 
I guess it could have been designed differently, but then perhaps it
would not have been as powerful?
 
Just some off-the-cuff musings.
 
Regards,
 
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