On Tue, 19 May 2020 07:43:14 -0400
"Rick Cooper" <rcoo...@dwford.com> wrote:
> I occasionally get emails warning me of bounced mail, this one
> doesn't go through we will send a probe, yada, yada.
>
> They say they include the bounce message but they always look like
> this: --- Enclosed is a copy of the bounce message I received.
>
> Return-Path: <>
> Received: (qmail 21198 invoked for bounce); 8 May 2020 19:58:49 -0000
> Date: 8 May 2020 19:58:49 -0000
> From: mailer-dae...@apache.org
> To: users-return-1220...@spamassassin.apache.org
> Subject: failure notice
>
> Which is useless. I also cannot find where the list was every denied
> in the logs.
> This time I went ahead and the email that would retrieve the messages
> that had bounced and I have every single one of them already... Every
> singled one.
>
> What is up with that?
I have seen this from time to time on several mailing lists.
Normally, it is caused by your mailserver rejecting a malformed mail
that has been sent to the list - the list software has accepted it and
not corrected its "non-compliance" - hence your mailserver bounces it.
If you do ever find out about the mail in question, it is usually (*)
spam.
Unfortunately:
(a) certain mailing list software is set up so that it can send on
malformed mail it could in theory reject or put right. I am of the
opinion this is wrong.
(b) certain mailservers (including mine, of my own volition) are
configured to reject such malformed mail on the grounds that it is
usually spam. I am of the opinion this is right.
(c) the mailing list software treats this as a bounce, without treating
the reason as special and letting it simply pass. I am of the
opinion this is wrong.
(*) usually = at least 995 per mil.
I am happy to read anyone else's opinions on the three points above, of
course.
--
Phil Reynolds
mail: phil-spamassas...@tinsleyviaduct.com
