Re: Top posting (a different point of view)

[Hal Vaughan <hal@thresholddigital.com>]

On Friday 10 June 2005 12:30 pm, Hubert Chan wrote:
<snip>
> I don't believe I was.  I was just trying to give reasons for why I
> think that top-posting (in a mailing list context) is not a good thing
> to do.

I haven't been keeping track of who said what in which post, so I don't know 
if I responded to you before.  I do have to say I'd like to thank you for the 
above statement.  The biggest reason I've responded as much as I have is 
because the patter *I* perceive is that those who speak against top posting 
seem to speak with an almost violent passion, almost as if top posting is a 
sin and those who do it should be cast forever into the pit of fire and 
damnation.

I don't know if anyone has noticed that I don't top post. (Actually, I might 
-- if I'm responding with a quick "Thank you," I may put it at the top.  If a 
post solves the problem, I might say, in one line, 'That does the job.'  
Usually I'll do this when there is a lot of material in the post I'm replying 
to, and it describes the whole problem and solution.  I figure that way, the 
response is clear and easy to see without scrolling and if someone finds that 
particular post later, they know it solves the problem and all the details 
are in one place.)  I do understand that for most people on most lists, 
bottom posting or inline posting is a preferred method.  I accept that.  I 
also accept that what works for one does not work for all, and what works for 
many can be difficult for others.

In other words, while I don't top post, I see no reason to be critical of 
those who do, and I certainly see no reason for the violent reactions to 
those who are open minded enough to not judge top posters.

I'm glad you not only shared your opinion and clarified here that it is what 
you think.  You know what I think and, since I think Kosh was right and Truth 
is a 3 edged sword, I think somewhere between what I think and what you think 
is the Truth.

Hal