Gerhard wrote:
>> Ignore the bad, keep the good.
>
> I really sympathize with everybody who feels forced to read what he/she
> doesn't want to read. I don't do that, and I sure don't wish for anybody
> else to have to do that.
>
> But why don't you use technology to make your life easier? Why do you want
> to put restrictions on what other people write rather than use some tool 
> to
> help you filter what you read?
[snip]

If you go back a month or so, you will find a message where I say 
essentially the same thing. However, my opinion on this issue has changed 
somewhat.

I only read perhaps 5% of all messages, and ignore the rest. I find that the 
easiest way is to do a manual scan and mark the messages I'm not interested 
in as "read".

Here's my reality:

1. I use OE to read all of my mail, including business, personal, and 
PicList.

2. I don't use "group messages by conversation", since it applies to all 
messages (not just PicList) and I don't like that for personal and business 
e-mail. If someone replies to a two-month old message (it happens quite 
often), I won't know about it until I read all the other messages (it will 
be several pages down).

3. I have about 40 different rules already, arranged by category. Adding 
filters for annoying PicList threads has the potential of destroying the 
fragile order.

Of course, I could:

A. Use a different program to read PicList.
B. Use additional filters.
C. Switch between "threaded" and "non-threaded" view.

However, each of the solutions would require an effort on my part, which 
automatically means that I would be less likely to read the messages, and 
reply to them. I believe this holds true for other people (about 2000 of 
them).

> I think it's as simple as Herman says: ignore what you don't like, focus 
> on
> what you do like. Don't read what you don't want to read, and you don't
> have to rant (even if it's only to yourself) about people writing about
> stuff you don't want to read about. And everybody is happy. Isn't this the
> goal?

There were 143 messages with "top-posting, is it really that bad" in the 
subject line. About 1/4 of these messages were from Xiaofan, and majority of 
replies came from you, Olin, and Danny Sauer. I am not going to exploit, for 
political purposes, Danny's youth and inexperience. But you guys should know 
better! :-)

The problems I have with that particular thread are:

1. There are *way* too many messages.
2. The thread has branched out, and there were messages which were totally 
irrelevant.
3. The topic itself was of little value to me, and I'm guessing to most 
people.

If Xiaofan changed his mind about top posting (which I don't think he really 
did, and I don't blame him) -- great, but I think the same thing could be 
better achieved using private communication, without creating so much 
clutter, pissing off so many people, and having members thrown off the List.

I don't mind posts, even the [WOT] ones. I start minding once they get out 
of control and begin to interfere with my ability to follow threads I am 
actually interested in.

The bottom line is, think before you post. Use appropriate tags. Trim 
original text in replies. Stay on topic. Avoid top posting. If someone got 
on your nerves, e-mail him/her offlist. When in doubt, don't post. Wash your 
hands before returning to work. Oh yeah, and make sure to start a new thread 
with a new message. :-)

I will give you the last word.

Best regards,

Vitaliy 

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