Gets very confusing when the original message has had both top and bottom
posted replies!

I think the bottom posting argument would be fine if you could guarantee
that the whole thread was always contained within the latest message.
Invariably this is not the case, so one ends up sequentially reading each
post. In this case, it is actually easier to read top posts, as you don't
need to scroll down within every message in the thread.

Perhaps all newsreaders should offer the option of how to treat replies,
top-post, or bottom-post. There is already an option not to include the
original message in the reply, perhaps it would be better if this was the
default.

Stuart

"Stuart Brooks" wrote in message
...

Gets very confusing when the original message has had both top and bottom
posted replies!

All the more reason to agree one method or style then isn't it?

I think the bottom posting argument would be fine if you could guarantee
that the whole thread was always contained within the latest message.
Invariably this is not the case, so one ends up sequentially reading each
post. In this case, it is actually easier to read top posts, as you don't
need to scroll down within every message in the thread.

Ah but with top posts, how do you know what the reply is referring to? Far
better that everyone sticks to one way, most seem to favour "quote then
reply" as then you can read it sequentially and it makes sense.

Perhaps all newsreaders should offer the option of how to treat replies,
top-post, or bottom-post. There is already an option not to include the
original message in the reply, perhaps it would be better if this was the
default.

But they don't, good idea though it is. So you have to deal with it by
specifying it right at the start. However, most seems to use OE, which with
typical MS practise, gives no option on this, so every user, unless making a
conscious effort, will default to top posting.

To add a positive angle to the discussion, what other newsreaders do people
use? FreeAgent and OE are most common but what other programs do people
recommend?
--
Rob Overfield
http://www.astrosport02.karoo.net

"Seasons don't fear the reaper, Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain.."

Quoting from message
posted on 30 Jan 2005 by Rob Overfield
I would like to add:


To add a positive angle to the discussion, what other newsreaders do people
use? FreeAgent and OE are most common but what other programs do people
recommend?

Going by comments in other ngs a growing number of bods are going over to
Thunderbird, along with Firefox as browser; given that Outlook and IE are
the most susceptible to attacks from virus/hijackers/trojans etc.

Then there are the minority who use another OS.

--
....ElaineJ... Briallen Gifts/Cards catalogue at http://www.briallen.co.uk
....Kinetic... Corn Dollies, Cards, Coasters, Mousemats, Kids' Tshirts
...StrongArm.. Jones' Pages at http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/ejones
....RISC PC... Corwen, North Wales; Steam Traction;CMMGB&Yukon Volunteers.

In message , Jack Harrison
writes
Would the female users of this newsgroup care to add their views?

Certainly not, but I'll add a reply.
Personally I'm a bottom person - seems to be more of it as each year
passes as well
--
Anita Evans
North Cumbria
(anita[at]ra.evans.clara.co.uk to reply by e-mail)

On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 21:43:09 +0000, Mike Tullett
wrote:

PS it is also important to include some of the post one is replying to,
else the post will often make little sense.

Especially when you consider that some newsfeeds may well pick up a
reply before the original post.

"Rob Overfield" wrote in message
"Seasons don't fear the reaper, Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain.."

Rob what do the Blue Oyster Cult prefer, top or bottom?

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 00:44:52 -0000, Rob Overfield wrote in

snip
To add a positive angle to the discussion, what other newsreaders do people
use? FreeAgent and OE are most common but what other programs do people
recommend?

I too have used both of those as well as Gravity, but have finally settled
for Dialog. It is extremely powerful, allowing scripting to be used to
personalise the settings. I can associated different sounds with various
posters, colours along the same lines and different signatures for
different news groups. It really is very flexible, but I wouldn't
recommend it for the beginner.

For those using Outlook Express, a most useful addition is Quotefix. It
fixes many of the problems associated with posting with OE. Here is a site
where it is explained:

http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/oe-quotefix/

It may be obtained he

http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software.../downloads.php

--
Mike 55.13°N 6.69°W Coleraine posted to uk.sci.weather 30/01/2005 11:12:42 UTC

"lawrence Jenkins" wrote in message
...

"Rob Overfield" wrote in message
"Seasons don't fear the reaper, Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain.."

Rob what do the Blue Oyster Cult prefer, top or bottom?



Don't think they care either way.... ;-)
--
Rob Overfield
Hull
http://www.astrosport02.karoo.net/YorkshireWeather/

Mike Tullett wrote:
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 00:44:52 -0000, Rob Overfield wrote in

snip
To add a positive angle to the discussion, what other newsreaders do
people use? FreeAgent and OE are most common but what other
programs do people recommend?

I too have used both of those as well as Gravity, but have finally
settled for Dialog. It is extremely powerful, allowing scripting to
be used to personalise the settings. I can associated different
sounds with various posters, colours along the same lines and
different signatures for different news groups. It really is very
flexible, but I wouldn't recommend it for the beginner.

For those using Outlook Express, a most useful addition is Quotefix.
It fixes many of the problems associated with posting with OE. Here
is a site where it is explained:

http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/oe-quotefix/

It may be obtained he

http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software.../downloads.php

Hmmm, thanks for that Mike, I think i'll give it a trial and see. Sounds
like its a good little piece of freeware...

--
Rob Overfield
Hull
http://www.astrosport02.karoo.net/YorkshireWeather/

On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 15:40:08 -0000, "Jack Harrison"
wrote:

Believe it or not, I had never understood just what these terms mean - or
more to the point, which means which.
So I looked it up. Excellent reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top-posting#Bottom-posting

Amazingly, by means the application of common sense I have been doing it the
preferred way all these years.
Well well! (I think it's called re-inventing the wheel)

In brief:
When someone wants to reply or add comments to an earlier posting, they
should quote the relevant bits ONLY and then add the reply. If there are
several points, quote each in turn then reply to each in turn.

"Quote then Reply" would be a lot easier to understand than "Bottom
Posting".

Jack



This one crops up in most newgroups from time to time.

Pure logic dictates that bottom posting and/or quote-reply is the
norm. I don't, however, condemn those who feel strongly that top
posting is their thing for reasons of individuality or convenience -
after all there is no usenet law, only etiquette.

The top posters need to be aware, however, that the majority consensus
of usenet users is for bottom posting, top-posting makes threads
difficult to follow, and top posters will often be seen as either
usenet neophytes, trolls or mavericks.

Martin