Hi Derek,

On Tue, Mar 31, at 02:28 [email protected] wrote:
 
> This topic has been more heavily posted on than anything else by far;

I agree.

> it's weaved its way into other topics as well and it has zip to do with Vim
> (posting off topic being far worse than the format of the message IMHO). 

I also agree.
 
> I joined this list to learn some sexy Vim bits and pieces after using it
> for 10+ years (Vi for another 5).  I got a couple of neat bits of
> information, but that's just a couple of drops in a sea of emails

Note however, that the people who regularly answer questions to this
list, all but all without an exception, they are bottom posters.

Here is my experience. While I usually following the list messages,
I don't always have the time to follow up with a suggestion immediately
and I might leave the answer that comes to mind, for a later time.
Well in that case, is much more easier to have the discussion in a linear
format, so I can follow it easier, rather (in the case of top posting)
than: try to guess or remember (the reference on the top of the email to
something which is not in front of my eyes), or to scroll down to the
message to find the referring (I do it but is annoying, especially when
it comes from someone who seeks for help - she has also to try to help
the participants with straight details and a nice formating text).
(It's not a typical exchange between some colleagues) 

> I posted a couple of times to try and be helpful and got personal emails in
> response telling me that I wasn't posting with a "nice format" - ugh, it's
> like living in a gated community where someone comes by to tell you that
> your red tulips aren't allowed, but yellow ones would be OK.

It might look like a rule and I think (based in the experience of life)
humans don't like rules in their lives (usually), but this isn't (a rule)
or it is a rule but for good reason. It's mostly practical as I've already
explained it, and a little of personal aesthetic (I admit it!).
And note again, that is a convention that is being used all over the Unix
lists for years (just try to top post in one of the main Gnu lists!).

> The hottest topic of conversation is how a post should be formatted,
> meaning that I could be harassed regularly if I don't post the way people
> like.  That's just silly :)

You have your opinion, and I don't like to enforce you my opinion, but
my opinion :) is that this conversation is not silly at all.
This is a community born from the need to exchange user experiences and to
help each other with our specialties.
Sometimes we have to talk for those boring things to reach in a consensus,
so we can understand each other better and make easier for people to
participate. By following those rules (well, just one and a half rule
actually) is mostly about respecting those people who share - you know
those valuable sexy bits and pieces - without even get paid just for the
sake of disinterestedness.. you know that inner human need, that make us
to feel better for unknown reasons. :) 

> I might follow things on the archive if the subjects are clear enough but
> as for staying as a member of the list... just can't be done.

Sure no problem. This list is one of the most civilized in the software
universe, but as someone (Teemu) already said and I agree with him, that
same list is getting sometimes unreadable (for the practical reasons I
mentioned above). Well, too many back references to my email. Hope it
doesn't get unreadable like Perl does sometimes. :)

> Cheers folks,
> Derek

Regards,
Agathoklis.

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