Hi Arky and Suraj,
http://www.atra-tr.org/netetiquette.htm was helpful. I deliberately cross-posted the request to ILUGC also, to measure response rate! Suraj pointed to http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#bespecific But both links are generally useful but do not point specifically to answers on the subject raised.
Now, please let me know if there is a serious page on this heavy subject [pun unintended]. How does mailman do the threading? [just the plain logic without code] How to fork the threading? Suppose I start a thread like "Is an International Free Software Treaty Possible?", is it possible to return to the thread even the next month? Can I view all posting on a single thread alone? Please do not think I know and I am asking :-) I am just trying to reach the root of the subject matter!
Cheers! K. Ramanraj.