[ubuntu-uk] Moan -- Top Posting (was "Apps for kids")

[Tim Powys-Lybbe]

On 7 Aug at 8:14, Joe O'Dell <joseph.odell at googlemail.com> wrote:

> > Has anybody ever told you that it's worse to top post and (by saying
> > "sorry" IN THE SAME POST reveal that you are aware that people will
> > be upset (yet you do it!)) than to simply be unaware (as many people
> > are) of how irritating top posting can be.
> 
> Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, WHOA!
> 
> Ease Up - I know some people stick to the mailing list etiquette, but
> sometimes it's not always possible. I try to where I can, but I don't
> expect to get a mouthful if I don't have time to etc.
> 
> Personally, I don't always see the direct need to post underneath
> quoted text, as it's not always relevant, and can also be a hinderance
> when reading the email, but I follow most of it anyway.

The principal need is to keep posts short, snappy and to the point. 
Therefore everything you are replying to that is not relevant should be
deleted, leaving only a short relevant bit.  Then it makes sense to
leave the quoted bit above with the reply after it, the same as one does
with conversations.

Or think of a book.  Do writers normally put the end of a conversation
first and the beginning last?  Never!

The further advantage of putting the replies in time order is that
replies to the replies can easily be added and the thread of a
discussion easily followed.

Finally it is useful to retain the identity of the person originating
the quote.  In the above it is not clear, quote marks apart, that Joseph
O'Dell did not write the first paragraph.

-- 
Tim Powys-Lybbe                                           tim at powys.org
             for a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org/