> All a cookie is is a very small text file.  That's it!  You can't
> get a virus thru it, and it can do the user no harm.  The images
> that get cached on your box are hundreds of thousands times
> larger in size than a simple small text file.  So bandwidth or
> "trash on your drive" is really a non-issue.

        All correct, which is why I didn't say that, try responding to the right
post.

> The piclist archive search uses cookies to save your login
> information.  Do you hate the piclist archive search too?  By
> having them enabled, for example, it saves you the step of having
> to log in every time you visit the archive search.  Now tell me
> how that is a bad thing?

        Obviously you didn't properly read my post. I never said cookies shouldn't
be used, I said cookies should only be used as a last resort. Using a cookie
to prevent having to log in every time IS a good use of cookies, and
therefore I have NO problems with it. A bad use of cookies, for example, are
ad companies that use cookies to track which ads you've seen, THAT is NOT a
good use of cookies, and is one I "hate" as you so elegantly put it.

> While I don't care for the advertisers using cookies to track
> information about me, it is such an infinitely small concern of
> mine that I don't care what they know about me.

        Good for you, you don't speak for me though, I think that IS a big deal.
Let me ask you this: where, in your opinion, does tracking your activities
go "too far"?

> Cookies in their
> own merits are useful in web development, 99% of people have them
> enabled anyway.

        Just because 90% of house doors are unlocked doesn't give me the right to
walk in and take stuff, does it?

> I use them all the time in the business
> applications I develop, simply because in most cases there is no
> alternative in maintaining some sort of client state.

        Try reading my post again, you obviously didn't the first time, you'll find
that in the case you describe, I have no problems with cookies.

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