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[Charles Curley]

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On Wed, Apr 30, 2003 at 01:45:46PM -0600, District Webmaster wrote:
> I'm really struggling to understand the concept that formatting email
> a particular way  is a matter of "should" or "ought to be."
>=20
> If somebody sends me a message formatted in html, or a file in MS
> Word format, or whatever -- by what universal code of ethics do I
> judge that they should or should not have done it? And who gets to
> set these rules of ethics? Is it majority rule? Is it the person that
> shouts the loudest? Gets the angriest? Is the geekiest? Has been in
> the group the longest? The Perliest?

How about long standing custom that came about through an evolutionary
process?

In this particular instance, M$ Word is a proprietary format, and so
not available to everyone. HTML Mail is bulky and cumbersome, and not
everyone supports or reads HTML mail. Plain old text (POT) is the
universal communications medium, rather like English. If you want the
most people to hear what you have to say, use English and write it in
POT.

>=20
> To me, an email message's formatting is neither moral nor immoral. Do
> I get emails that are difficult to read? Sometimes. But it usually
> doesn't take long for me to extract the message -- in the grand scheme
> of things I am really only very slightly inconvenienced.

True, but those "slightly inconvenienced" events add up. T'would be
more courteous for people to not cause you the inconvenience.

>=20
> As I said before, I think Sasha was very repectful in his
> suggestions. But I've always thought -- and perhaps I'm wrong on
> this -- that PLUG's purpose was to promote linux usage, and I think
> that's best accomplished by creating an inclusive atmosphere where we
> encourage all people to ask and answer linux questions, regardless
> of _how_ their message is formatted -- and to write really long
> run-on sentences.

Your Honor, I think you should dismiss the charge of driving on the
wrong side of the road because the highways in this country should be
more inclusive.

I have no problems with inclusion. I do have problems with people who,
like Brittanicus in George Bernard Shaw's play Julius Caesar, think
that the customs of their tribe and island are laws of nature.

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Charles Curley                  /"\    ASCII Ribbon Campaign
Looking for fine software       \ /    Respect for open standards
and/or writing?                  X     No HTML/RTF in email
http://www.charlescurley.com    / \    No M$ Word docs in email

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