Why can't LSOFT just look for the fact that the message has passed through
the list server twice?

In my experience, this is a dead giveaway that the email is a bounce. The
bounce detector and eliminator used by the archive script at
http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp
looks for exactly that. And it doesn't miss a bounce. I've suggested to
lsoft that they also look for that, but they are a busy lot I guess or
maybe there is some reason why that won't work for them.

The other problem is how to quickly (and hopefully automatically) decide
which subscriber is causing the bounces. In the example header I've
included below from a bounce on the piclist, the first time (read from the
bottom up) that it passes MITVMA.MIT.EDU, it heads off to the ISP at
memphis.cbn.net.id
 and they report delivering it to
[log in to unmask]
 If it comes back to the list again with that first part of the header
still attached, it was after this persons machine (or their ISPs machine)
touched it so that is the root of the problem.

Now, what is "interesting" is that [log in to unmask] isn't
(hasn't been) subscribed to the list! Neat huh? But the list server has a
totally cool feature that allows one to scan for any part of an email
address or name. So scanning for indesso comes up with
[log in to unmask] who IS (was) subscribed.

What I would like to have is a script that parses the headers of any
message that is detected by the postbot as being a bounce and tries to
figure out who the subscriber is that caused the bounce. So they can be
automatically deleted rather than waiting until a human is available to do
the detective work and drop them. This one was fairly easy due to the
memphis.cbn.net.id machine adding the (not required) comment about who it
delivered it to. There is apparently an immense amount of variability in
the layout of email headers.

This variability would be eliminated if LSOFT list servers would add a
consistant note as to the email address of the member they are sending the
message to.

If anyone out there with lots of email ISP experience (I have VERY LITTLE)
knows more about this sort of thing, please comment.

---
James Newton (PICList Admin #3)
mailto:[log in to unmask] 1-619-652-0593
PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org


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