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In <003c01c2beda$2ced91b0$[EMAIL PROTECTED]">mid:003c01c2beda$2ced91b0$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Robert Silver [RS] wrote:'
RS> Editing in HTML and sending Emails in HTML is expected in this
RS> century.
This is sad. I'd have preferred if the same were being said about
rich text format.
RS> Many people like html mail.
If this is so for everyday use and for average mail, then this is so
because they don't realize the problems with HTML mail. I liked it as
well, then decided not to use it when I realized the problems with it,
but was however neutral. Now, I'm just plain against it.
My philosophy now is. If you wish to send rich text, then send it as
an attachment. E-mail needs a format to support rich text and that's
widely supported. However, HTML is just not the answer.
RS> This why the smartest setting on Email is both html and text
RS> outbound and if you never want to see HTML just set your receive
RS> mode to accept only the text part of an html email or bounce the
RS> message, however, do not deprive other users from HTML mail which
RS> still has its place.
Well, TB! will display a plain text version even if the sender doesn't
send one. I still have problems with it. Not to mention the amazing
increase in mail transmission bandwidth when routinely sending
messages dual formatted.
I currently read my mail using a black background and a light grey
font. It's more soothing to my eyes. Makes me able to read a lot more
mail without getting tired.
There's this particular list that I'm subscribed to where a lot of
HTML mail is posted.
When I switch to reading the HTML version of a lot of the posts on
that list, I have to read using the senders background colour. Most
are white. Others are light blue. Others are red...yellow. etc. The
font sizes, colours and face also vary from message to message. They
may even vary within the same message. They're often set at a size
that's too small for my display, so I have difficulty reading them. It
doesn't take long before I get frustrated having to readjust my eyes
for each messages style or frustrated because it's literally difficult
to read the tiny text on my screen that may very well be of adequate
size on the senders screen.
I therefore have to switch to reading them in plain text.
Unfortunately, this isn't without problems since the plain text
versions leave out the colouring or the font face change or other HTML
type decorations to indicate what's a quote from what's not.
IOW's, it's chaos there in terms of formatting. However, the
information is good, so I read it in plain text, thanks to TB!, and
tolerate the other problems. Not to mention over-quoting. OE based
HTML messages also encourage embedding of images in posts. It's just
lovely when someone replies to a post containing five or so embedded
images, and proceeds to top-post the reply and quoting the entire
messages, images and all below. All out of ignorance, I'm sure. I
doubt anyone will convince me that this is done with prior
*knowledge*. Plain text would avoid that outright.
So, you may say, one cannot outlaw something because it's abused by
others. My question is, how is the basic user not to 'abuse' it when
it's easily capable of the things that create so many problems for
others? In fact, what it's capable of looks so darned good on their
monitor screens. They genuinely think their reader will always
appreciate this at their end.
Having to endure this list and see what HTML mail can do in the hands
of those who don't know when and how to use it, and aren't aware of the
difficulties it can create for the readers of their messages, I am
forced to now jump on the bandwagon of voices that speak against it on
absolute terms. I used to be neutral in that I just don't use it
personally, but no longer am. I now think it's a bad thing. :(
A browser is designed to render and read HTML. I can configure font
sizes in pages that I view when I read web pages. I can magnify the
page using Opera. I don't have these tools in an e-mail client.
- --
-=] allie_M [=- {List Moderator}
MUA: TB! v1.63 Beta/4 ___ OS: WinXP Pro (SP1)
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