Re: samba

On Wed, Jun 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM Johan Helsingius <julf@julf.com> wrote:
>
> On 25/06/2025 09:55, Odhiambo Washington wrote:
> > I _prefer_ bottom-posting or the interleaved style. Top-posting is a no.
>
> Sure, I understand it is your personal preference. I am just wondering
> if the list has a consensus or rule about it.

I am persuaded by the argument I've seen since my early days on USENET
that interlineal (bottom) responses are best.  There are some
standards from that time that are archaic – ASCII in a Unicode world –
keeping lines at 64 or 72 characters in length – etc.   I repeat the
argument below.

Why top-posting is problematic:

Disrupts reading order: It forces readers to scroll past the reply to
see the original message, which is the opposite of how we typically
read text.
Creates long, redundant posts: Top-posters often include the entire
original message, leading to lengthy emails with unnecessary
repetition, especially in threaded conversations.
Hinders efficient reading: It makes it difficult to quickly grasp the
context of the conversation, especially in longer threads.
Can lead to missed points: When replying to a multi-part email,
top-posting can make it easy to overlook or forget to address specific
points in the original message.

Why bottom-posting or inline replies are preferred:

Maintains chronological order: Bottom-posting keeps the conversation
in a logical top-to-bottom order, making it easy to follow the flow of
discussion.
Reduces redundancy: Inline replies allow you to quote only the
relevant parts of the original message that you are responding to,
keeping the email concise.
Improves clarity: By directly addressing specific points within the
original message, inline replies ensure that all parts of the
discussion are properly addressed.
More efficient for longer discussions: Inline replies and
bottom-posting are more efficient for reading and understanding
lengthy email threads.