On Sep 24, 2010, at 11:36 AM, Joel M. Halpern wrote: > I tend to assume that people write emails the way they would like to read > them. > > Thus, if I am writing an email with a lot of detailed context from a previous > message, I include the revelant portions of the message, and reply in line. > > However, when I am writing A reply that does not require detailed context, > but may depend upon some context for either those who have not been reading > everything, or the cases where the thread is complex enough that checking > which piece one is responding to (even when the subject should not have > changed) can be helpful, > then I top post. > > Why do I top-post? > Because I prefer to read email in the preview pane of my email reader. It is > much faster for me to read. Top-posts I can generally read in the preview > pane with 0 additional clicks. I can go scroll down and read the selected > context if I need that. > In contrast, with a bottom post I have to scroll through the whole thread, > most of which I have read before, just to find out what this poster is adding. > > Since, as a reader, I strongly prefer to read top-posts, that is how I > usually post. >
I don't much care, but in general I think that a simple "WFM" or the like should be top posted; otherwise go with what seems the most natural to read. Regards Marshall > In this case, it is pretty clear that the details of the earlier conversation > are relevant only to prove that a conversation is taking place, so I will > assume readers who care have read those posts, and I have deleted it all. > > It is very true that if you are trying to parse a thread that you have not > been following, a thread where everyone has bottom posted, while retaining > sufficient context, is MUCH easier to figure out. I have had more than one > thread where I have had to read the top-posts backwards from the bottom to > figure out what the heck is going on. > But that, for me, is a rare case. > > Other people probably read differently. So I do not claim that my reading > experience is relevant for how other people shoudl post. I will cope however > things are posted. > > I do want to re-iterate two points I have seen that are important. Both are > relevant no matter what style of posting you like. > 1) People need to read the whole email before composing their response. (You > can draft ideas while reading, but make sure you actually read the whole > thing before you finalise your response.) > 2) People need to edit longer threads so that they do not copy large amounts > of redundant and useless text. > > I will note on 1 that the satiric demonstration of this that followed shortly > after the initial note was just beautiful. Thank you. > > Yours, > Joel M. Halpern > > _______________________________________________ > Ietf mailing list > [email protected] > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf > _______________________________________________ Ietf mailing list [email protected] https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf
