[ILUG] open list abuse

[Rory Browne]

Okay: I'm a little late into this conversation, mainly because of the
ridicules subject on the OP's message, but having that said, I'm a
top-poster, and proud of it. Well maybe not exactly proud of it, but I
sure as hell am not ashamed of it. I read the objections, evaluated
them, and dismissed them, but now I'm going to counter-argue them.

There are two types of replies sent to mailing lists. There is the
type where you counter argue each and every point in an sequential
manner. In these type of post I perfer to see the part the person is
quoting, prefixed by >'s, and the part that isn't being quoted not
prefixed.

On the other hand, there is the type of post, which like this one,
tackles the entire issue. In this case I consider top-posting to be
preferable. When I want to read something new, I don't necessarly want
to have to have to scroll through a lot previous emails that I've
already read. At the same time I would like to have the option of
scrolling down to get back into context, particularly if I am
following more than one thread. Luckally gmail allows me to hide the
quoted text, but If I didn't have that option, bottom-posting would
get very annoying.

This "(A) Because it's the wrong way around. (Q) Why not top post?"
example, is for the want of a better description, a load of shite.
When I read an email, I want to see the important stuff first. I've
seen the question before, so I don't necessarly want to see it again.
If I do, then all I have to do is to scroll down. On the other hand, I
don't want to have to search through stuff that I've already seen
before to find the answer. In this case the answer is more important,
and should be given a more promonant position, ie. at the top of the
message.

In short: LEAVE US TOP-POSTERS ALONE !

On 9/1/05, Paul O'Malley <ompaul at eircom.net> wrote:
> Ha almost straight away you do not know if the topic has anything to do
> with the contents of the mail. :)
> 
> [note - if you think what follows is anything other than a plea for sane
> posting then, I'm afraid that you are very much mistaken]
> 
> It is about time that the list owner took agressive and decisive action
> against the almost criminal top posting by some people.
> 
> 6) read
> 4) people read from top to
> 2) If you want to follow this item then you have to check the numbers on
> the side.
> 1) Lets look at it this way.
> 3) Up until the advent of some very brain dead mailers and their owners,
> 5) bottom and it was easy enough to
> 
> So, please now agree with me that top posting is a problem, answers and
> suggestions below please.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Paul O'Malley
> --
> Irish Linux Users' Group
> http://www.linux.ie/mailman/listinfo/ilug/
> 
>