On Sep 24, 2010, at 11:36 AM, Joel M. Halpern wrote: > I tend to assume that people write emails the way they would like to read them. > > Thus, if I am writing an email with a lot of detailed context from a previous message, I include the revelant portions of the message, and reply in line. > > However, when I am writing A reply that does not require detailed context, but may depend upon some context for either those who have not been reading everything, or the cases where the thread is complex enough that checking which piece one is responding to (even when the subject should not have changed) can be helpful, > then I top post. > > Why do I top-post? > Because I prefer to read email in the preview pane of my email reader. It is much faster for me to read. Top-posts I can generally read in the preview pane with 0 additional clicks. I can go scroll down and read the selected context if I need that. > In contrast, with a bottom post I have to scroll through the whole thread, most of which I have read before, just to find out what this poster is adding. > > Since, as a reader, I strongly prefer to read top-posts, that is how I usually post. > I don't much care, but in general I think that a simple "WFM" or the like should be top posted; otherwise go with what seems the most natural to read. Regards Marshall > In this case, it is pretty clear that the details of the earlier conversation are relevant only to prove that a conversation is taking place, so I will assume readers who care have read those posts, and I have deleted it all. > > It is very true that if you are trying to parse a thread that you have not been following, a thread where everyone has bottom posted, while retaining sufficient context, is MUCH easier to figure out. I have had more than one thread where I have had to read the top-posts backwards from the bottom to figure out what the heck is going on. > But that, for me, is a rare case. > > Other people probably read differently. So I do not claim that my reading experience is relevant for how other people shoudl post. I will cope however things are posted. > > I do want to re-iterate two points I have seen that are important. Both are relevant no matter what style of posting you like. > 1) People need to read the whole email before composing their response. (You can draft ideas while reading, but make sure you actually read the whole thing before you finalise your response.) > 2) People need to edit longer threads so that they do not copy large amounts of redundant and useless text. > > I will note on 1 that the satiric demonstration of this that followed shortly after the initial note was just beautiful. Thank you. > > Yours, > Joel M. Halpern > > _______________________________________________ > Ietf mailing list > Ietf@xxxxxxxx > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf > _______________________________________________ Ietf mailing list Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf