Nick Simicich wrote: > Name any reason that I should use a slow, buggy piece of software for > something as simple as reading e-mail? > > >Though what I'm discussing with my fellow students is completely text driven > >(it is a course in screenwriting), I find that using multiple type sizes, > >boldface and colors, just to pick three formatting capabilities, makes it > >MUCH easier for me to emphasize that which I feel needs emphasis to my > >fellow students and I find that reading well thought out formatted messages > >from them is somewhat easier than reading plaintext messages, too. > > What do you do about the people who can't decode your messages? With regards to the class, everybody can handle all messages just fine, whether using a browser or the Embanet client, those with web access just don't have as rich a toolset for producing messages of their own, because of the limitations of browsers, I assume. But you're still arguing that because today's tools are somewhat inadequate and not universally available, the concept is invalid. Five weeks ago I might have even agreed with you, but I'm now convinced that it is a technological issue, and as we all know technology changes over time. When there is a reasonably adept and bug-free mail client, as well as list packages capable of determining whether a subscriber is capable of reading formatted text or just plaintext and sending only the appropriate format (converting HTML or other formatting information to plaintext as needed), this will become pretty much a non-issue. Over time I predict that is EXACTLY what will happen, and that lists will migrate towards supporting formatting because it will be possible to do so without causing the problems that got this particular thread going in the first place, and because it will make it easier for users to express themselves. As list managers, one continuing challenge will be to educate users as to the need for making sure their messages are readable. Right now we have to deal with issues like long line lengths and run on paragraphs, when we embrace (willingly or otherwise) systems that support formatted messages, we'll have to deal with issues like strange font choices and excessive use of styles or colors. The medium is not the message, but the medium can affect the perception of the message. Please note that this does NOT apply to binary attachments, just to formatted text. There may be lists or forums that choose to support certain binary attachments as well, but that's a whole different topic. -- Mike Nolan
