[Dixielandjazz] Chaotic e-mails

[Lowell Busching]

I am one of those that did notice that the original poster concerning 
chaotic e-mail did mention he was using a library computer.

Telling someone using a library computer to change from html email, the 
usual default for most mail programs it appears,  to plain text, or 
making any other such changes is a definite no no. They either block you 
from making any changes or request that you do not, even if you promise 
to return it to the original settings.  If they do not make such rules, 
chaotic is too weak a word for the results to the next user.

Much the same as letting each band at a festival do their own adjusting 
on a "house" mixer/amp. Within 2-3 groups, max, nothing works right.

If you are on a library computer and either can not establish if you are 
sending html or plain text, just send a message to the DJML and see how 
it comes out. You will probably not be shot. Bob Ringwald has a terrible 
aim with a gun. I believe some flexibility is now built in, but indeed 
it is supposed to be a plain text mailing list. Some can not accept 
this, an continue to send html emails to the DJML.

Some may remember when one of the major 3rd party mail programs tried to 
establish what they called an "Internet standard" of 100 characters per 
line.  That really messed up AOL mail at the time, or BB mail systems. I 
think it also put the ? characters at the end of each line etc.  Or you 
got all doubled over lines on the other end. It was a mess or chaotic.

Using options as noted, you can set for any line length. On my screen my 
email looks fine at about 80 characters per line. I recently sent an 
email to a friend who like many, returns your ENTIRE email to you with 
their comments on top. Some say they do not have time to delete the 
other persons email. Really! It takes about 2 seconds to highlight and 
hit the delete key.

Even if they have NO intention of commenting directly on any of the 
other person email, or only a line or two. If you have enough time to 
WRITE an email, it would be nice if people took a couple seconds more to 
highlight and delete repeat portions they have no intention of 
commenting specifically on. Just a suggestion, again. A radical concept 
I know, but try it sometime.

How many times do we have to read the same comments over and over and 
over and over?  Does it prove you read the other persons comments in 
their entirety?  I think not. Generally the person just wants to get 
their comment out ASAP, even if they forget the subject line.

My friends email program is obviously set for only about 45 characters 
per line  and her response looks fine on my screen, but my portion was 
all doubled over at her maximum characters per line.  Did she see my 
email that way? I am not sure. I will ask.

Bottom line finally. Why worry about how it looks on the other end. The 
idea is to communicate without a LOT of redundancy. Often, neither is 
accomplished. Almost nothing you do on your end will guarantee 100% how 
it will look on the other end, even using manual CR's, etc. Or just 
don't quote as someone suggested. Write it over in your format.

Mad Dog