[Gllug] [OT] Largest mailbox EVER!

[Jason Clifford]

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003, Jack Bertram wrote:

> I seem to have started an argument that I didn't want to start.  As
> you'll note, I try to follow standard email conventions in posting to
> mailing lists, 

Does that include top posting? ;)

> > > I'd never use formatting on a Linux list, but for business communication
> > > I'm afraid the lack of formatting is a massive disadvantage.
> > 
> > That arguement is simply proof that people are seeking to use email 
> > incorrectly.
> 
> I don't agree with you - email, like all other forms of communication,
> is evelving 

Do remember that there are usually two main branches of evolution - one 
that leads to improvement and the other that leads to extinction.

>- in this case, it's developing as technology improves and
> things are becoming easier.  You seem to be keeping to the 1970s notions
> of "email should be plain text so as not to waste bandwidth", but most
> people who use email for business aren't concerned about that - they're
> concerned about time and speed. In different contexts, different things
> are important.

Consider what will happen as more and more people start using unnecessary 
"extensions" to email. I expect it will be much like it has been with the 
web where many sites are now inaccessable if you are not using a specific 
platform because they are not compliant with the basic standards.

As you add more and more divergence from the standards (and they are all 
being pushed by those who want to embed proprietary systems) you break 
more and more systems to the point that what is currently a mostly 
universal means of communication will fail into diverse networks that are 
only able to communicate with each other to a very limited extent.

> > If you need to send a document where formatting is significant either 
> > print it out and post it or make a PDF and attach it to a brief email.
> 
> A one-page memo can either be written in Word/PDF and attached, causing
> a recipient to have to launch another program to read it every time
> he/she wants to look at the memo (not just on first delivery) or it can
> be written as body text in an email where it takes one key stroke to
> display it.  Someone has elsewhere pointed out in this thread that it's
> useful to be able to display images inline - why doesn't the same go for
> formatting?   

If the message is a simple memo why does it require formatting?

The idea that non-specialised messages require special formatting is 
fallacious. 

> Evidence?  There are enormous quantities of evidence suggesting that
> well-used styles can make a big difference to comprehension.

Where is the evidence that this has to be in typeset formats to be 
effective?

> For
> example, consistent formatting of major/minor headings, subheadings,
> etc. Why should people learn a whole different style of formatting
> (ASCII) to make their email communications consistent with their other
> communications?

Because those communications totally fail when the recipient cannot read 
the content.

The point to communication is to get the content across and where the 
formatting you embed makes a message unreadable (ie HTML encoding in 
email) you have totally defeated that purpose.

In a totally closed community breaking standards is OK however it is 
habit forming and results in poor communication outside such communities.

Jason Clifford
-- 
UKFSN.ORG		Finance Free Software while you surf the 'net
http://www.ukfsn.org/	   1Mb ADSL Broadband - just £27.50 / month 
                            + Free Activation on all ADSL services


-- 
Gllug mailing list  -  Gllug at linux.co.uk
http://list.ftech.net/mailman/listinfo/gllug