Re: Top Posting

In article <5e33e3dd4d.Tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Tim <Tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi All,

> Just a thought: we are regularly lectured in this and other Risc OS groups
> on the evils of top posting.

> Anyone who does gets flamed very quickly on the basis that it is "wrong".

> So my question is who decided that it was wrong, why was their view
> definitive and where was it promulgated?

The early users of the 'net by discussion and agreement over what worked best.
The ideas were RFC'd (referred for comment) and agreed when the RFCs were no
longer improved. those RFCs can be seen today:

http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/

and the one you want is:

http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1855.html

Your ISP should have pointed this out to you when you first went on line -
butover the past few years ISPs seem to be failing in their duty. Demon
certainly did refer me to all the 'rules' when I first sent them some cash.

> And a second thought: given that the vast majority out there top post
> replies to emails (and probably news but I don't subscribe to any non-Risc
> OS news groups so I don't know) when will the popular useage be taken to
> have nullified the wrongness pronounced above?

The only protocol that works is the recommended one. Like driving on the left
it only works if everyone uses the same protocol but, unlike the driving code,
the opposite isn't equally acceptable. Top posting would only work if everyone
also started reading from the bottom.

If 'popular' misuse took over then the sensible answer would be to return to
using cleft sticks as a fast and readable form of communication.


> Regards and a Merry Christmas to all.

--
John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing

.

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