LinuxSA Mailing list archives

  From: Andrew Reid <andrew.reid@plug.cx>
  To  : David Lloyd <lloy0076@rebel.net.au>
  Date: 29 Jun 2001 15:20:48 +0930

Re: HTML Mail

On 29 Jun 2001 14:52:05 +0930, David Lloyd wrote:

> Long running sequence of events? Besides, what is a "flambe"? ispell
> suggests you may mean flame but one can never be sure.

I've not noticed a long running sequence of events. I've noticed that
you're consistent in asking people not to post HTML to the list. I can't
see ANYTHING wrong with the way you've conducted yourself.

Whatsmore, I think it's got nothing to do with a long sequence of events
at all. It's more specifically one of the most recent newbie posts to
the list.

> Hang on a moment. I did not abuse the newbie. I pointed out that I
> wouldn't read any further HTML e-mail from him unless he could make my
> computer levitate and fly all the way to Africa. Personally I don't
> think that's too much to ask. The choices are stark:

Abuse of the newbie would have looked very different. I can't see how
anyone could class what you wrote as "abuse".

> 1) Cause my computer to levitate (using some means) and send it to
> Africa
>  - very difficult
>  - probably impossible
>  - not really a wonderful choice

"Pegasus" has obviously got the point from the rather vivid picture that
you painted. That's the desired outcome for all of us, right?

> 2) Determine how to send e-mail in plain text
>  - extremely easy

Which he did. He was still on the list to participate in this thread.
Your message mustn't have been too terrible for him to deal with.

> Incidentally, that's exactly what happened. It appears that the new user
> also appreciated the comments beginning with seriously. I will continue
> to argue that a marked up <bitch mode="on"></bitch> block, followed by a
> paragraph starting with "seriously" made it so obvious that I wasn't
> flaming anyone at all that you'd have to be blind to fail to understand
> it with one or two re-reads at most.

Exactly! When are other people around here going to realise that?
Whatsmore, you addressed the problem. What's to complain about?

> Do I ever use harsh words...unfortunately it's been all of our
> experiences that politely saying "no" doesn't work (trust me, they keep
> on reoffending). Also, throwing them into the effective life
> imprisonment (i.e. automatically ignoring them or dumping html email)
> doesn't, in my opinion work either.

Using a rather extreme example means that they get the point. Sarcasm is
good at that.

> Let's put it this way. If you were to run into a bank in Australia, push
> into the queue and hold up the teller (because that's what you do in the
> culture that you came from), noone is going to treat you with kid
> gloves.

Agreed.

> Might I remind people that JavaScript and other idiotic things bundled
> in Microsoft Outlooks crappy TFNET MIME encoded tripe has generally been
> responsible for a significant amount of Exchange servers simply falling
> over.

Not to mention the completely evil things that Outlook does with
distributing mail through the addressbook. Why on earth would you want
to use Microsoft mail clients, though?

> In ancient Egyptian mythology there were generally two types of
> Gods/Goddesses. One type would say, "You did that wrong. I suggest you
> do it this way the next time. I forgive you." The other type would say,
> after hitting you over the head with a great stick, "You stuffed up. I
> expected better. This is what I expect. Do it right next time. Oh, and I
> forgive you.".
> 
> I prefer the latter approach.

Which is what it all boils down to. Some prefer the "softly, softly"
approach whereas you prefer to be a tad more blunt. I'd be inclined to
say that being blunt and up-front about it is more effective, too.

> Both get there in the end; the latter tends to be more spectacular.

No one's asking the rest of the list to adopt your methods. It's not
unreasonable to want to do things "your way".

   - andrew

--
void signature () {
	cout << "Andrew Reid -- andrew.reid@plug.cx" << endl ;
	cout << "Cell: +61 401 946 813" << endl;
	cout << "Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur" << endl;
}

-- 
LinuxSA WWW: http://www.linuxsa.org.au/  IRC: #linuxsa on irc.linux.org.au
To unsubscribe from the LinuxSA list:
  mail linuxsa-request@linuxsa.org.au with "unsubscribe" as the subject