[photo-3d] Avoiding attribution errors

[Paul Talbot <list_post@xxxxxxxxx>]

The best way to avoid attribution errors is to not quote
back so much!  (more on this below)  Many list members
have been extremely cooperative in improving their list
posting style over the past 6 weeks or so.  They have
my sincere gratitude, and the unspoken appreciation of
countless list readers.  Others, unfortunately, are
proving somewhat resistant to the suggestion that they
read and apply the excellent advice at:
http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbser=1141
If you have not yet read these tips, please do so before
posting to the list.

Here's a good rule of thumb: if your message consists
of text added entirely above or below a fully quoted-back
message, you probably should eliminate all quoted back
text (and edit your message slightly, if required).  Try
adding two quick keystrokes to your posting routine
(windows PCs): upon opening the reply window, type
Ctrl-A Delete.  That will give you a nice clean page
to write on!

Now back to attribution errors.  They frequently arise
from differences in how various e-mail programs preface
quoted back material.  Common example:
  Person A writes brilliant text.
  Person B quotes back Person A's text with a program that
    does *not* insert "Person A wrote:"
  Person C doubly quotes back Person B's post, with a program
    that inserts: Person B wrote:"

Readers have to pay careful attention to the number of greater
than signs to pick up on who wrote what.

Some email programs are configured to preface quote back text
with the ungainly (and silly for list posting) format:
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Person A
   To: [our list] (we know that!)
   Sent: [some date] (wrong 50% of the time, esp around clock changes)
   Subject: Re: [something] (we can see the subject elsewhere)

This is also prone to causing attribution problems, primarily
when the quoted back text includes other quoted-back text.
Please reconfigure your mail software to eliminate this
type of quote-back header (or change to a better program).

Another good rule of thumb: doubly quoted back text is
rarely necessary.  Think doubly hard before doing it!  If
you decide you must do so, it's best to quote only from
original messages, by copying and pasting as needed.  (If
it sounds like too much effort...maybe you don't really
need to quote back so much after all!)

End of today's "good listmanship" lesson.  ^.^

Paul Talbot

 

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