Yes, we know, it's a quixotic quest, but: in the interest of maintaining message readability for all, we, your list admins, enforce the following list message formatting rules:
- write your message in *plain-text mode* (or make sure your mailer produces a readable plain-text version of formatted mail) - quoted material comes *first* - edit quoted material down to the *minimum* necessary to make your message understandable when it is read on its own - add your new material *last* In other words, your messages should look like this: ---------------- On June 26, 2013, so-and-so wrote: > here's some quoted text > > note that it is demarcated with > a ">" mark, which works in plain > text, you could also put ">>>" at > the start and end of the quoted material. And here's some new text, hopefully origami-related, etc. Yadda, yadda yadda. signed, your name ---------------- ANYTHING ELSE will be bounced back to you. (The bounce message will say something about "rejection," which is horribly unfriendly, we know, it's part of the mailing list system, and not changeable.) This is not a commentary on the CONTENT of your message, just the FORMAT. Do not take it personally, do not call us names or resign from the list in a huff, etc. Please just re-edit your message and resend and we will be happy to OK it. If your account is unmoderated, and you forget and do not follow the posting formatting, your account will be re-moderated until you acknowledge that you understand the guidelines and vow to mend the errors of your ways. :) Anytime you're about to hit send, remind yourself that list mail is not the same as interpersonal mail. We 1200+ list members deserve the small amount of attention your careful editing will require so that everyone, on all mail systems and list delivery modes, can properly parse and understand your list messages. Now go fold something (and please come back and tell us how it went, and why!) Anne
