[Gllug] Re: [OT] Largest mailbox EVER!

[Wulf Forrester-Barker]

Jason <jason at ukpost.com> wrote:

> If the message is a simple memo why does it require formatting?
>
> The idea that non-specialised messages require special formatting is

> fallacious.

I certainly think it would be good for people to learn to imply meaning
by:

  a) good spelling and grammar (including care about the length and
focus of sentences and paragraphs)

  b) making use of the formatting that can be delivered with a few
simple tools like spaces and line breaks

Although I rarely look at HTML formatted email I can't, off the top of
my head, recall any occasions where the formatting was vital. However, I
can think of plenty of times when I've received messages that have been
difficult to interpret because someone hasn't started off with a clear
and structured layout.

I do admit to sometimes using a limited amount of formatting when
sending mail to other users at the Trust - for example, emboldening a
suggested correction for a document or using colour to highlight certain
items in a list. However, again it is difficult to think of examples
when this was NECESSARY; other conventions could also have been used to
convey my meaning.

What matters for the purposes of communication is not the decorative
trimming but the structure of the thought behind the message. I don't
think bandwidth is quite the issue it used to be (so I hope you'll
forgive me for the unavoidable 'disclaimer' tagged onto the end of my
message) but I'd rather receive a long message where time has been taken
to compose and organise the authors thoughts than an equally large one
(measured in KB) where the 'weight' lies in unnecessary
'prettification'.

Wulf


-- 
Wulf Forrester-Barker (Webmaster)
The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust
http://www.lewisham.nhs.uk/


wulf.f-b at uhl.nhs.uk

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