Thank you, Linda, for the several links to articles that really explained this issue well. I have now set my preferences to compose and read in plaintext.
Paul, the reason I hadn't previously switched is that, if my memory serves me, people had not presented me with the detailed reasoning that came this time. Plaintextfully yours, Richard -- Richard Shane http://www.sleepeasily.com 303.449.0778 > From: "Entourage:mac Talk" <[email protected]> > Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:59:31 -0800 > To: "Entourage:mac Talk" <[email protected]> > Subject: Entourage-Talk Digest - 12/30/07 > > From: Bellwether <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:55:58 -0600 > Subject: Re: Better to send email in HTML or plaintext? > > On 12/30/07 3:50 AM, Mike Dano wrote: > >> Everything needs formatting! :) > > You're opening a can of worms here that I'm not sure is appropriate for this > group. But since the worms are wriggling, I'll add my two cents that for > personal email, Plain Text wins. > >> I work with type design all day as part of my job. > > As do I, and I use and prefer to receive Plain Text email. I often delete > HTML email without reading it, especially when it arrives on a > troubleshooting list. With database-based email apps like Entourage, in > which an HTML mail is significantly larger than a Plain Text email (bloating > the size of my database much more quickly!), using HTML where Plain Text > will do is somewhat disrespectful of fellow listmembers. > >> In my opinion it is almost always more pleasing to read HTML text, > > I completely disagree. You have very little control over your HTML -- you > can set a font and a background color, but you have no assurance that the > font you choose is resident on my computer, and will show up the way you > expect it to in your message. OTOH, I have my Plain Text set up in a font > and size that I personally enjoy and find easy to read. > > While HTML email has a place in the world, I firmly believe that "less is > more". I feel *so* embarrassed for someone when I receive an email and their > sig is twice as large as their message text, because their carefully chosen > font isn't open on my computer and so is substituted for something strange > and unreadable, breaking new lines and misaligning their clever little ASCII > artistry. I feel even worse for those whose messages turn into gobbledegook > because I have Helvetica Fractions open on my computer for a client project, > rather than Helvetica, and their message turns into a strange conglomeration > of 1/4s and ##$ and ยง and whatnot. They tried so hard to be pretty and it's > such a waste. :-) Then there are people who have one font going on in their > message, take a break for an italic word, and when they go back to roman > type it's a different font and size. What happened, man? You had formatted > the first part, then went ital, then went back to "default" font -- which on > your computer is the same as the original formatting you'd done, but on my > computer is a totally different font and size, so the "default" font is > totally different... Distracting, and now if this is a client, I wonder > whether they're actually clueless, or what... > > Mark my vote *firmly* in the Plain Text email camp! Along with these folks: > > <http://www.zeldman.com/2007/06/08/e-mail-is-not-a-platform-for-design/> and > the followup > <http://www.zeldman.com/2007/06/12/eight-points-for-better-e-mail-relationsh > ips/> > > <http://www.birdhouse.org/etc/evilmail.html> (even though the author has > changed his mind since 2006, he still speaks for many of us) > > <http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/a/plainttextemail.htm> > > peace, > Linda (who also works with type and design all day -- since January 1984, as > a matter of fact) -- To unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/entourage-talk%40lists.letterrip.com/> old-archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/entourage-talk%40lists.boingo.com/>
