[Python-ideas] Posting style

[Mike Meyer]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:53:05 +1000
Nick Coghlan <ncoghlan at gmail.com> wrote:
> The big pain though is answering email on a (not-so-)smartphone - I
> know the Android Gmail client places both cursor and signature above
> the quoted message, and fixing the formatting is annoying enough that
> the only two realistic choices are either top posting or not replying
> at all (and I'll often choose to wait until I'm back at a machine with
> a full keyboard for exactly that reason).

The android client K-9 is better behaved. I find it more usable in
general than the Gmail client (or Google's mail client, for matter
that).

To me, the real issue is proper editing more than where the quote
winds up. If you're just going to fire off a quick quip, editing the
quote makes it a lot more work. If you're actually taking time to
think about what you're saying, then editing the quote is a minor bit
of work, and may well help with the composition of the message.

Basically, top posting says "I didn't think about this, just shot off
a reply." Bottom posting beneath an unedited quote says "I'm an old
fart who didn't think about this, just shot off a reply." Taking the
time to properly edit the quoted text says "I thought about what I'm
saying, and took the time to remove the irrelevant."

Final comment: I saw a number of "My mail reader hides the quotes"
replies. If "get a better mailer" is an acceptable response, then
consider it used if your mailer makes top posting the easy option.

     <mike