From: | Doctor Doom <jch8169@******.TAMU.EDU> |
---|---|
Subject: | ADMIN: Quoting Previous Postings |
Date: | Fri, 10 Jun 1994 20:59:38 -0500 |
There are a number of tendencies of list members, pertaining to
procedures followed in replying/responding to a message, that have been the
source of no small degree of consternation for me. Since my recent elevation
to status to that of Dread Executor, I feel compelled to enumerate upon these
behaviors, in that I have received word that they are a source of irritation
for others:
When one seeks to juxtapose one's own views with an earlier message, i.e.
reply to an anterior posting, one should:
1. Facilitate differentiation between original and cited material by denoting
text from the former correspondence with initial line characters (">" and
"]" being typical), rather than simply append one's own material at the
end.
2. Quote, or cite, only those lines pertinent to your reply or commentary,
that is to say, avoid recapitulating the entire message.
3. Quote the earlier posting /previous/ to insertion of one's own script,
RATHER than including the preceding post at the /end/ of your message.
Hence, observers may see what instigated one's reaction, and following
that, specifically what one's reaction /was/.
In line with this is the popular procedure that "intermingles" the
respective texts, by which one replies to specific lines of text
individually, followed by another citation, followed by more response
material, and so forth.
4. Indicate the prior posting's authorship by identifying said message's
originator at the beginning of the earlier material, and /not/ by the
inclusion of the (typically) multiple-line signature file.
I only mention this in interests of the greater good and due to the
fact that others have made similar complaints. It is poor Net etiquette for
those who choose to plow through the volume of mail this list produces and
to have to contend with such obviously unnecessary verbiage -- especially
those members who must actually PAY for electronic mail service.
________________ _______ _______ ____ ____
\ _____ \ / \ / \ / \/ \ >>> Attack,
\ | | | |---___ | ___---| | || || | attack, and
| | | | |_____/ | \_____| | || || | if in doubt
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | | | | | | || || | ATTACK! <<<
"Iron hand in a | |___/ / \_______/ \_______/|____| |____| -=-=-=-=-=-
velvet glove." | / ||
-- Charles V |_______/ Dread Executor of Administrative Tasks for Hayden
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^