plain text and curse words
Folks,
Long time listener, first time caller. I'm not a developer, but I am a "power user" in the sense that email is critical for work and I like to tinker with stuff. Not proposing this definition as canonical, BTW.
I think this discussion is sort of framed wrong.
I like plain text and paid the heavy price for Mailsmith for that reason, even though I have zero use for filters, which is what that program is really about. Stopped using it when it became more or less unusable.
Anyway, my recollection (which may be inaccurate) is that what I liked most about Mailsmith was:
(a) it (tried to) turn HTML email into something that I could read in plain text; and
(b) it didn't switch to a HTML or rich text mode without asking me, because that was what someone sent to me and it was just easier for the client to switch modes.
The point is that I like to read email in well-formatted plain text.
I know that there are some folks out there who want to force other people to use plain text all the time. Those people lost their battle. Really. No, really.
On the other hand, there is a significant contingent of people who just want to live in plain text and coexist with the HTML world. I use Mutt and GMail, and I like it. But when I get an email in HTML, I have to switch to the browser. I think if our imaginary client allowed you to stay in plain text mode (without switching things around behind your back for its own convenience) and read HTML mail in readable plain text with the HTML stripped out, that would more than satisfy most plain text folks. The problem is that we're used to being treated as an after-thought and second class citizens, at best. A little love would go a long way.
Yes, the text only purists are pining for a client that will only be used by fifteen people who are just going to end up switching back to Alpine and Mutt (or whatever it's calling itself this month) anyway. But there is a middle way.
BTW, I think Mr. Welch is making a serious contribution here, potty mouth and all.
<div>
<div>Folks,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Long time listener, first time caller. I'm not a developer, but I am a "power user" in the sense that email is critical for work and I like to tinker with stuff. Not proposing this definition as canonical, BTW.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I think this discussion is sort of framed wrong.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I like plain text and paid the heavy price for Mailsmith for that reason, even though I have zero use for filters, which is what that program is really about. Stopped using it when it became more or less unusable.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Anyway, my recollection (which may be inaccurate) is that what I liked most about Mailsmith was:</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>(a) it (tried to) turn HTML email into something that I could read in plain text; and</div>
<div>(b) it didn't switch to a HTML or rich text mode without asking me, because that was what someone sent to me and it was just easier for the client to switch modes.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The point is that I like to read email in well-formatted plain text.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I know that there are some folks out there who want to force other people to use plain text all the time. Those people lost their battle. Really. No, really.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>On the other hand, there is a significant contingent of people who just want to live in plain text and coexist with the HTML world. I use Mutt and GMail, and I like it. But when I get an email in HTML, I have to switch to the browser. I think if our imaginary client allowed you to stay in plain text mode (without switching things around behind your back for its own convenience) and read HTML mail in readable plain text with the HTML stripped out, that would more than satisfy most plain text folks. The problem is that we're used to being treated as an after-thought and second class citizens, at best. A little love would go a long way.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Yes, the text only purists are pining for a client that will only be used by fifteen people who are just going to end up switching back to Alpine and Mutt (or whatever it's calling itself this month) anyway. But there is a middle way.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>BTW, I think Mr. Welch is making a serious contribution here, potty mouth and all.</div>
<div><br></div>
</div>
--
Alan Pyne
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