>> There is evolution and then there is etiquette. Top-posting is not on >> par with proving a theory (flat-earth v spherical-earth) or evolution >> of systems. In as much as it is proper etiquette to trim and >> bottom-post it is rude to be diametric, just as it is rude to fart on >> purpose at a state dinner. > >Even etiquette evolves. And even then, who's to say one etiquette is >better than another. In most cultures it's rude to burp at a meal, yet >at others it is rude to NOT burp. Once again an argument that seems to >be stuck in a rut. Let's say I promise to disagree and continue posting >as I choose till I hear a good argument for not top posting.
Here's an argument: the correlation between intelligent, active members of this list and bottom-posters seems to be pretty high. When a member top posts, there's a pretty good chance that their questions and comments will be ignored -- I know for sure that I am less inclined to participate in discussions that make it unnecessarily difficult for me follow along, for formal reasons such as top posting or terrible grammar and puncuation. Besides, what kind of person pointedly belches at the dinner just because some /other/ culture out there believes it's acceptable? ...Because that's essentially what you're doing now. Etiquette rarely exists without reason, and a Google search on 'top posting' turns up gobs of excellent arguments against the practice, including at least one RFC that frowns on it. Personally I don't care either way, but I am a lot more inclined to participate in online discussions where a significant number of the members have shown personal concern for the formal qualities of their outbound communications. Common sense, right? --------------------------------------------------------------------- michal migurski- contact info and pgp key: sf/ca http://mike.teczno.com/contact.html -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
