Changed tag to OT.

Chen Xiao Fan wrote:
> Actually I am using Outlook 2000 at work and it is
> very hard for me not to top-posting when using
> Outlook 2000 at work.

I use Outlook Express on both Windows 2000 and Windows XP, and it's very
easy to reply as I'm doing now.  I don't understand what the problem is.
You hit CTRL-R and it opens an editable mail window seeded with the original
text preceeded by "> " on each line.  You then delete the lines that aren't
relevant and insert your comment anywhere you want.  Maybe you don't have
Outlook set up for plain text mail sending?  This must be just a parameters
issue.

I also run OEQuoteFix.  It cleans up the mess when multiple levels of
quoting make the text wrap all funny.  It's not perfect, but on ballance
it's better than not having it.

> However I can see that more and more people are using
> top-post and I like it more than other styles.

That doesn't make it easy to read or a good idea.

> Or is it still justified by some engineering/scientific
> reasoning?

Mostly by common sense and plain courtesy.  Top posting may save you a
second or two, but makes it annoying to read.  That's pretty arrogant and
inconsiderate on a list like this where there are 1500 readers of every
message.  When there are over 100 messages/day and many separate threads
going on, many people aren't going to remember exactly what was said last
that you are replying to.  Even if they remember every message, with so many
things going on simultaneously plus the list server delays, it's not obvious
at all what a bare reply is replying to.  If the context of a statement
doesn matter, then you should delete the original message completely.
However, most of the time it's needed for continuity, but of course that
implies that it must be read *before* the reply.  That makes original first,
then reply, the natural order.

A: Top posters.
Q: Who are the most arrogant people on email lists?


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