At 07:35 AM 3/7/01, you wrote:
> >Rumor has it that AOL has posted instructions on the web on how
> >to make AOL 6.0 send plain text messages. In my mind this is
> >a good thing because it now permits AOL customers to once again
> >send commands to the ListProc command processor that Cornell University
> >uses.
>
>I'm left scratching my head wondering why system administrators feel unable
>or unwilling to put a filter on the front end which will convert HTML
>encoded text to plain text. It's not hard.
It's not hard *for system administrators*. For list administrators who are
not system administrators, it's impossible. System administrators,
however, have to do it on a case by case basis as requested by the list
administrators (or be willing to undo it on a case by case basis as
requested by the list administrators), since some lists might allow or even
encourage HTML encoded text. (One set of mailing lists I run is a set of
distribution lists for a monthly letter in various formats -- RTF,
WordPerfect, HTML, and ASCII. The users have a choice of what formats to
subscribe to.)
>There have been bitter battles fought by purists who feel it is
>inappropriate to send HTML encoded emails. I'm inclined to agree. But now
It is inappropriate to send HTML encoded emails *unless* the recipient has
agreed in advance to receive them.
Jim Trigg
