Klarinet Archive - Posting 000282.txt from 2002/03

From: "Patricia Alison Smith" <pattiesmith@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Some advice on formatting; was Off-Topic Etiquette Wank
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 09:34:49 -0500

Gil Guerrero wrote:

I understand it can be helpful to have some of the original thread for
clarity, but if the amount you're quoting is 10 or 15 times longer than what
you have to say, you're probably being lazy with the editing.

Patricia:

I can understand Mr. Guerrero's point. Here's how, if you are new to using
your e-mail program - most programs work this way.

Click on "reply" or "reply all" depending upon what you want to do. Then,
look at the original message that is in the window. Highlight what you do
NOT want to quote, by using your left mouse button held down. Once you have
done that, delete it. All you have left is what you DO want to quote from
the original message. You can even do what I do and get rid of all the
original formatting marks, and simply highlight the remarks you wish to
quote, then, preface them with the person's name followed by a colon.

After the quoted remarks, you can follow by making your own original
remarks, prefaced by your name, and a colon. This seems to be the easiest
thing to read for most folks. that way, they know what is said by whom.

If you put your remarks first, followed by the remarks of the person you are
quoting, this is known as "top-posting". There are some folks who do not
care for this sort of thing, as it is out of chronological order; they find
it confusing. I don't mind it that much, as long as the quoted remarks are
snipped and there is not a lot of formatting. When I forward an article in
plain text, I will "top post"; however, I also edit the article for brevity
to save bandwidth and to make it easier to read. Most of the time, people
simply top post, and do not snip off any of the quoted material at all; this
is exceedingly annoying AND difficult to read.

SOOOO...

My advice is, do try to think of those who use different mail and
newsreaders than yourself, and snip as much of the material you are quoting
from as possible. That way, we can enjoy your original post and know what
you have to say. :) I hope this is helpful; I certainly intend it to be
so, and not offensive or directed to any particular individual.

Patricia A. Smith
pattiesmith@-----.net

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