Re: Famous Spammer Uses Challenge-Responses

From: Floyd L. Davidson (floyd_at_barrow.com)
Date: 07/18/04 

Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 07:27:33 -0800

"Android Cat" <androidcat98@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Floyd L. Davidson wrote:
>
>> The fact that it can be done is not in dispute. *Why* he would
>> want to do it is beyond me. For the typical text article posted
>> to Usenet (as opposed to binaries, etc.), it is simply a poor
>> practice on the part of a writer to leave any part of the format
>> to the reader. In essence, I don't want the reader changing the
>> words that I use, the white space that I use, or the
>> *formatting* that I use because /all/ of that contributes to the
>> message which I wish to communicate.
>>
>> It is also very poor practice on the part of a reader to force
>> reformatting.
>
>Oh dear. My reader converted all your *emphasized* text to bold, your
>/slashed/ text to italic

You did good then, because that is indeed exactly what is
supposed to happen.

>... and used a proportional font.

As I noted, it is impossible for me to prevent a reader from
using foolish configuration options or poorly designed software.
(I see you use Outhouse Express...)

>I hope this doesn't
>offend you _too_ much. I could get my terminal out of the basement, but the
>text would be green on black and you'd have to live with that, sorry. (Or
>would black on green be better?)

You do realize that if text is formatted into columns, for
example to present a table of useful information in a readable
manner, *you* are going to have a mess rather than anything
useful.

In that case, you might actually be better suited if you stick
with old technology that you can't misconfigure. The rest of us
won't have that problem, since we make better choices for both
software and configuration. 

-- 
FloydL. Davidson           <http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)                         floyd@barrow.com