Baslinux mailing list

[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

On Fri, 22 Dec 2006, Lee Forrest wrote:

> David,
>
> On Fri, Dec 22, 2006 at 05:07:42PM -0800, David Moberg wrote:
> [delete]
> > I try to avoid top posting, but I don't really care if you top post
> > when you reply to the list. Others may find it annoying. I don't think
> > that this list has had very many top-posters in three years.
>
> On many lists, "top posting" will get you 86'd. Or simply shunned.
>
> "Top posting" is fine for real-time, unimportant, conversations.
> But this is mailing list devoted to a highly technical subject,
> not a "chat room".

Such as acronyms???

> If you are tuning into a thread late, you often have to search
> the article below to figure out just what the "top poster" is
> talking about. And it may not be clear even then.

When I am following a thread, I actually prefer to see the new comments at 
the top.  I post that way on purpose, and delete most of what follows and 
just leave the essentials (or summarize) as a reminder or for newcomers.

> Because they haven't placed their response directly under what
> they are responding to and haven't trimmed irrelevant parts away.
>
> So you search back through the thread and encounter even more
> confusing top posts.
>
> The same goes, only more so, for searches in the archives.

Obviously there are a lot of nontechnical people posting to this list.  If 
you want them to change, try asking nicely and explaining your reasons.

This list is for a mixture of total ignoramuses and professionals.

> Putting responses above what is being responded to makes no
> sense at all. That's not how written English works. Down
> the page indicates forward movement in time.

It makes sense to me.  New info first since most of us have seen the old 
info.  Many languages work that way, unlike English.

> [delete]
>
> I generally find "top posting" so frustrating that I simply
> ignore posts from people who do it chronically. And if It occurs

So ask them to change.  Don't insult them to the point that they leave the 
list.  Everyone has something valuable to contribute.

> in a thread in the archives, I sigh and resign myself to reading
> it from the very beginning, because if I don't, I'll end up
> getting confused.
>
> Lee

Sindi

keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org