Re: Comparing plans across instances

From: HansF <Fuzzy.Greybeard_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2006 19:30:14 GMT
Message-Id: <pan.2006.09.24.19.30.14.155115@gmail.com>

On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 17:38:06 +0000, Mladen Gogala wrote:

> On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 10:23:53 -0700, DA Morgan wrote:
>

>> Please do not top post. Scroll to the bottom to reply.
>>

>
> Unfortunately, Outlook and Evolution promote top-posting. It became de
> facto standard. I've even been warned by one of my former bosses to put
> my replies at the top of email, the same as everybody else. I cannot

EMail and Newsgroup responses are completely different things, have completely different audiences, are based on completely different assumptions, and require completely different ettiquette.

Even the terminology is subtly different. One 'sends an email', but 'posts a topic'. One 'replies to an email' but 'responds to a post'.

They just happen to use the same, or similar, technology.

Replying at the top of an email is often the correct thing to do. EMail is directed at a specific audience, and the audience is expected to understand the trail. Retaining the trail in the reply is unnecessary, but can be considewred a convenience. Top posting is not bad since the writers and readers only use the trail for quick reference.

Bottom posting in discussions and newsgroups is the correct things to do. The discussion is open to the general audience, and a specific respondant may jump in at any time. It therefore makes sense to allow the group to understand the context - by reading the comments in order.

-- 
Hans Forbrich   (mailto: Fuzzy.GreyBeard_at_gmail.com)   
*** Feel free to correct me when I'm wrong!
*** Top posting [replies] guarantees I won't respond.

Received on Sun Sep 24 2006 - 14:30:14 CDT