I think one of the things that might be getting missed in this whole
discussion
is why a number of people feel that HTML is "bad". I think that when you
drill
down, it isn't because people are so convinced that it is evil, as it is a
self
preservation issue.
Before you get your underware in an uproar, hear me out.
There are a lot of list managers tend to be either current or former sysadmin
types that for years have had to read mail from a wide range of platforms
on any given day out of necessity.
For example, right now I am on a bus, using eudora on my laptop w/ a wireless
modem. Later, I'll be in the datacenter for a short time working on a vt100.
When I'm at a training class, I'd be using a telnet window, at my desk I
use MH
and at home I use netscape.
It is only natural for a person that works in such an environment to go for
the
plain text, lowest common denominator for readability's sake. Is this the
right
way or the wrong way? No. It is what it is: someone trying to get something
done.
Joe internet-user on the other hand usually has a single machine that they
read mail from. This person has no reason to worry about plain text and it
only makes sense to use something that will allow him or her to put better
emphasis in a message that they send. Is this the right way or the wrong
way? No. It is what it is: someone trying to get something done.
I currently block html and RTF on the couple of small lists the I run. In
fact,
I am pretty rabid about it. It isn't because html is "bad", it is because it
meets
my personal requirements for managing the lists. The restriction serves no
one
except me. Pure selfish motivation.
Eventually, when the size of the lists reach some critical mass, where it
becomes
a burden to try and coach _subscribers how to set their mail readers to plain
text,
I will lift that restriction. Until then however, I have a responsibility to
mentor the list
members that might not know any better, how to send mail to the list and I
need
to
do so in a courteous, supportive fashion.
After all, It isn't thier fault that I don't like the way that they choose to
format their
messages.
Just something to consider.
Regards, Kenny Paul
"live from the BART CART"
