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Rockbox mail archiveSubject: Top-Posting, Vis-a-Vis Last Night's FussTop-Posting, Vis-a-Vis Last Night's Fuss
From: KANE BROLIN <kbrolin65_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:04:38 -0400 Hope: I'm honestly not altogether sure why the whole feeling about top-posting is so strong. But I think it's involved with historical trends that you weren't a part of. I think what matters to these gentlemen is for anyone on a list with a given topic in mind to clearly show what THEIR specific issue is in the subject line, not to write to the list about one matter by replying to a particular thread that doesn't apply to their particular question. So what this refers to is, for instance, if I were to have a concern about Rockbox voices but I express that to the list by replying to a message someone else wrote called "Microphone Question" or "Lang File." The point that Paul and some others are attempting to make is that, in case someone ever wants to search the archive for info about a microphone, the searcher shouldn't have to filter through hundreds of unrelated messages that come up with "microphone" as one of the result words when many of those messages don't really have to do with microphones at all. I think what irks some of the veterans on this list is that many message threads go back and forth in which the subject line doesn't match the real content of the message--or messages that contain an unending reply string that might flag lots of keywords inefficiently when someone is trying to research the archives in future. I respect this concern, because a good part of my workday involves searching the Web for specific information that affects the performance of someone's retirement savings or tax liability or insurance policy. So the point is taken. My main problem last night was not in the veterans' desire to keep this list clean. My anger was based on these individuals' choice of communication approach. If you are like I am, you have a life that doesn't involve spending the majority of one's day on a mailing list. So you probably get confused about concepts such as "top-posting," not fully understanding what the word means or why it's a problem. Instead of a terse, snotty remark from a list admin or veteran user, it would have been much more classy if someone annoyed by your approach would have written to you personally off-list, helped with your particular point of computer frustration, and then gently explained to you what the etiquette really means. Regardless of whether Paul, Daniel, and the others meant to seem arrogant or petty, that's how it was conveyed. I love the list and I love what Rockbox has helped me to do. But it would be a better world if those with technical skill and an eye toward precision were to have an ample supply of human kindness and empathy to match. And, by the way, when the big furor came down last night, the anal veterans who made a big deal about top-posting, were actually top-posting themselves! Whenever you point a finger at someone else, the other four fingers on that hand point right back at you, don't they? -Kane Received on 2007-08-26 Page template was last modified "Tue Sep 7 00:00:02 2021" The Rockbox Crew -- Privacy Policy |