E-Mailing Privately Off-List

There are certainly times where e-mailing privately is apropos. For example if a person's message doesn't pertain to the entire list, that the discussion should be taken off-list.

If you are a member of any discussion list, it is a given that you may be contacted off-list by other members who are aware of the nuances of group discussions. Especially is you post off-topic. The more experienced members will know to reply directly to you rather than clog the list with replies to off-topic e-mails.

To send communications off-list when a conversation goes off-topic is perfectly O.K. and is not spam if someone is replying directly to your post. If an issue or topic is exclusive to one member and not of interest to the group, the proper thing to do is to contact the person off-list so the list can remain on topic and of value to all members.