From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S269583AbTGXRcP (ORCPT ); Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:32:15 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S269602AbTGXRcP (ORCPT ); Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:32:15 -0400 Received: from mailrelay2.lanl.gov ([128.165.4.103]:61652 "EHLO mailrelay2.lanl.gov") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S269583AbTGXRcE (ORCPT ); Thu, 24 Jul 2003 13:32:04 -0400 Subject: Re: Posting format From: Steven Cole To: "Robert L. Harris" Cc: Tomas Szepe , bill davidsen , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org In-Reply-To: <20030724171553.GK32585@rdlg.net> References: <20030723201801.GB32585@rdlg.net> <20030723212224.A527@infradead.org> <20030723220037.GC32585@rdlg.net> <20030723225333.GC16244@louise.pinerecords.com> <1059059667.1672.202.camel@spc9.esa.lanl.gov> <20030724154732.GJ32585@rdlg.net> <20030724160327.GB22052@louise.pinerecords.com> <1059065578.1668.234.camel@spc9.esa.lanl.gov> <20030724171553.GK32585@rdlg.net> Content-Type: text/plain Organization: Message-Id: <1059068534.1668.253.camel@spc9.esa.lanl.gov> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Ximian Evolution 1.2.4-1.1mdk Date: 24 Jul 2003 11:42:15 -0600 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Thu, 2003-07-24 at 11:15, Robert L. Harris wrote: > Thus spake Steven Cole (elenstev@mesatop.com): > > > On Thu, 2003-07-24 at 10:03, Tomas Szepe wrote: > > > > [Robert.L.Harris@rdlg.net] [snipped] > > > > > > > For those new to the conversation they can just start at the bottom and > > > > scroll up. > > > > > > Ever actually tried doing that? IMHO it's not half as practical and > > > natural as reading from the top down. (You have to keep scrolling, > > > searching for block starts.) > > > > I think Tomas has just hit upon why top posting is fundamentally wrong. > > > > Indo-European languages read left to right, Semitic languages read right > > to left, and some Oriental languages read top to bottom, but no human > > languages I'm aware of read bottom to top. > > [more snippage] > > I'm not saying you should write your paragraphs backwards such as your > Cafe sign. It's more of an organizational thing than an order of > reading thing. When I sort my ToDo list I put the things most important > on top, when I sort my mail, I put the things I need to read on top, > etc. This way the most important piece (the newest comment in this > case) is on top and I don't have to go digging for it. Reverse chronological lists are another example of where top agglutination provides convenience. But the lower, earlier part remains and doesn't get snipped. It doesn't seem to be the same as a multi-way conversation where earlier parts become irrelevant to later parts. > > Not everyone puts inline responses and they're not always needed. If > you place some a good idea is one a co-worker uses: > > See inline comments below. > > 4 works, 1 line. Tells us there is content he added mixed in. > Otherwise I don't have to waste time and effort digging through the > rants, flames and fluff wondering "is there something down here?"... The ease of tacking on your comment to the top means that you will not be motivated to snip all the "rants, flames and fluff" below, so all that (usually) irrelevant flotsam gets sent over and over again. At home, I'm on a 56k dialup, and getting the days worth of lkml messages takes a while. Cutting down on unnecessary verbage which can easily be retrieved if needed is definitely appreciated. Steven