[wplug] A question of etiquette

[Michael Smith]

My opinion on whether top-posting is bad is that email replies should 
simply be well-written. When it comes to setting hard-and-fast rules 
like "top-posting is bad," you're getting too much into hazy 
generalities, some of which are bound to get you in trouble.

Hard and fast rules are bad.

That was a joke. Hard and fast rules are useful for training. For 
example, you might tell your kids, "don't talk to strangers," but the 
mental rules you apply for yourself about personal safety are far more 
complex and dynamic.

If I were to try to express the rules I apply when I decide how to 
quote when posting, I might say something like this:
1.	Minimize the amount of repeated material.
2.	Make sure what you're talking about is clear by quoting, restating, 
or paraphrasing previous posts.

If you don't understand why #1 and #2 are important, than just bottom 
post and don't worry about it.

In this case, I deleted the entire previous post and restated the 
question in my first sentence.

Peace,
Mike