Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 14:35:02 -0400 (EDT)
To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Email & HTML & 1st Friday Meeting
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Candy Madigan <candymadigan at mindspring.com> wrote:
> Uh.  Keith.  I asked you how to un-HTML a message I was trying to
> forward and when you didn't reply, I just gave up.

I apologize for not replying.  My answer is that I don't know what
software you have available, nor how to operate it.  Your question
may be answered by the documentation for your software, or by the
appropriate section of http://www.expita.com/nomime.html

In a standard text editor such as emacs or vi, you can delete
all text which begins with a left-angle-bracket and ends with a
right-angle bracket.  That's not perfect, but it's good enough.

"lee gilliland" <leeandalexis at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Keith, I, too, have difficulties with non-HTML, as when I am
> corresponding with clients I need it on for my mail to look right.

I certainly see nothing wrong with HTML email between consenting
adults.  Just so long as it's always sent by pre-arrangement.
Otherwise, the recipient may be annoyed by it, or may be discarding it
unread.  I suppose it's possible that some people actually prefer to
receive it, though I've never heard of one.

> As I now understand it, I may leave my HTML on and uou will filter
> it, correct?  And if I do so, will it be posted real time, or do we
> have to wait for you to go through all the messages individually?

Sorry if I was unclear.  All HTML email sent to me or to this list
is discarded unread.  My message was mostly discussing what happens
when a plain text message is sent to the list from someone who is
not subscribed to the list.  Unlike most lists (e.g. LISTSERV and
YahooGroups) I keep distinct lists of who should receive copies of
all the messages (any past or present WSFAns who asks me to sign them
up), and who can post to the list (any past or present WSFAn, even
if I've never heard from them before).

Plain text email from someone who isn't obviously a WSFAn will be
held for my approval.  This happened, for instance, with email from
"Weyrlady," until I was able to figure out that that was an alias for
Meridel Newton.  Now that I know this, anything from "Weyrlady" will
go straight to the list without being held for my approval.

Once again, I am FAR from the only person or list which discards all
HTML email unread.  Most of them do so without even warning you.  So
everyone really should learn how to not send HTML, and not just for
the sake of this list.  HTML email should really only be turned on
by pre-arrangement with a recipient who requests it.  Similarly with
attachments.
--
Keith F. Lynch - kfl at keithlynch.net - http://keithlynch.net/
I always welcome replies to my e-mail, postings, and web pages, but
unsolicited bulk e-mail (spam) is not acceptable.  Please do not send me
HTML, "rich text," or attachments, as all such email is discarded unread.