On 06:29 PM 4/10/01, J C Lawrence wrote:
>On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 13:09:57 -0700
>JC Dill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> As much as I personally hate HTMLized email, as list managers we
>> need to think about how to effectively deal with it.
>
>Due to the privacy and security implications of HTML mail (ala web
>bugs, java, etc), I dissallow HTML on any list I run. I will NOT
>allow any of my lists to be used to invade or probe the privacy and
>security of other's or their systems.
>
>HTML email either gets stripped or the post is silently dropped in
>the bit bucket. I'll admit that bit bucketing it is probably not
>the wisest long term course, especially with AOL et al making it
>increasingly difficult for their members to not send HTML mail, but
>its tantalisingly easy. HTML strippers need to get quite a lot
>better.
>
>> Our list subscribers are only going to want to use it more and
>> more. At some point we have to find a solution that meets their
>> expectations, or all lists will ultimately end up hosted by
>> yahoo.groups.
>
>Embedding URLs in a message does not require HTML. Most MUAs that
>I've checked are able to make textual URLs in messages live and
>directly clickable.
I didn't say it did. But the users will demand the ability to send and SEE
HTMLized email, sooner or later. By archiving HTMLized email, you let
everyone see the HTML in all its glory, via a browser, on a website. Then
you can strip the HTML from individual emails before sending it off to
those who don't want HTML but do want individual emails, and leave it
intact for those who do want HTML in individual emails.
Of course, this makes those who want to receive only plain text the second
class users, as they won't see formatting that other users use and see
(bolding, underlining, etc.) and may result in discussion issues where
someone misses what was really meant because they didn't see the
formatting. I don't look forward to this day, but I don't know what anyone
can do to stop it from happening. Especially what with AOL6 and WebTV and
Hotmail making in increasingly hard for people to send in plain text.
jc
