bg wrote:
On Sat, 2008-01-05 at 05:36, Troll/Idiot wrote:
Good advice, except for #3 (bottom posting). Some people prefer bottom
posting because they personally find it more convenient and others
prefer top posting because they find that more convenient.
bg:
We could debate "convenient" all day.
Nope. What I find convenient is what I find convenient. You don't have
any say in it. No debate.
T/I:
Top posting is the common practice on some lists and bottom posting is
common on others. There is no single universally accepted convention.
bg:
That is about as superficial an assessment as I've yet seen. It isn't
that simple. Top-posting is functional when used in a one-on-one
"business" communication (I frame it in quotes so as to include personal
business), but it does not work so well in a threaded discussion
environment. Many people object to having the thread presented in
reverse chronological order. Moreover, the top-poster generally makes
no attempt to edit down, or truncate, the post to which they are
replying. Top-posting forces the reader to jump around within the
message to verify who said what, when. Bottom-posting makes the
readers' task much faster.
Finally, I've noticed for many years that, strictly WRT to lists,
the serious users who date back to the dawn of e-lists mostly prefer
bottom-posting. It is more the clueless newbies who embrace top-posting.
Further from that, it is my considered observation that a very
high proportion of *those* practice top-posting not only because it
seems like the less-effort choice, but also because they don't have
the slightest idea how to work the editor that opens with their email
:-)
Brewster
Throughout your post you suggest that people who prefer top posting are
inexperienced and that experienced users prefer bottom posting. You may
find that association of preference and experience compelling in your
own mind, but I think most people establish their own preferences on
more rational grounds.
If you really do have experience, or more important, if you can
contribute to the list, the "big boys" will let you play with them,
regardless of whether you agree with them on every issue.
Bruce Roorda
Possum Hill Farm
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