Egos on the Net Xx
Egos on the Net
Found the following interaction in the Python list amusing.
Transcript
Steven D'Aprano
On Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:35:20 +0800, iMath wrote:
what’s the difference between socket.send() and socket.sendall() ?
Please re-send your question as text, instead of as HTML (so-called "rich text"). Since many people are reading this forum via Usenet, sending HTML is considered abusive. This is a text newsgroup, not a binary newsgroup.
If you must use a client that sends HTML, please make sure that it ALWAYS sends a plain text version of your message as well. But here are eight reasons you should not rely on fancy formatting (colours, fonts, bold, etc.) in text-based media such as email (or news):
HTML code in email is one of the top 3 signs of spam. Many people send "rich text" email straight to the trash as a way of eliminating spam.
HTML code in email is a privacy and security risk. For example, that means that the sender can track whether or not you have read the email using "web bugs" whether or not you consent to being tracked. There are viruses, spyware and other malware that can be transmitted through HTML code in email. For this reason, many people filter HTML email straight to the trash.
HTML code forces your choice in font, font size, colours, etc. on the reader. Some people prefer to read emails using their own choice of font rather than yours, and consider it rude for others to try to force a different font. Sending white text on coloured background is especially nasty, because it hurts readability of even for people with perfect vision.
Even if readers don't mind the use of "rich text" in principle, in practice once they have received enough emails with pink text on a purple and yellow background with blinking stars and dancing fairies all over the page, in pure self-defence they may disable or delete HTML emails.
Use of colour for emphasis discriminates against the approximately 10% of the male population who are colour-blind.
Use of italics or other formatting may discriminate against those who are blind and using screen readers to "read" their email. I once was on a maths mailing list for about three years before I realised that the most prolific and helpful person there was as blind as a bat.
Programming is a text-based activity. Code depends on WHAT you write, not its colour, or the font you use, or whether there are smiley faces in the background winking at you. So especially in programming circles, many people find HTML code in emails to be a distraction and an annoyance. Being able to express yourself in plain text without colours and fonts is a good practice for any programmer to get used to.
Even if you think that people who dislike HTML emails are wrong, or silly, or being precious, or completely nuts, nevertheless you should indulge us. You are asking for free advice. It does not pay for you to offend or annoy those you are asking for help.
(Apologies to anyone on the "tutor" mailing list who has already seen this message earlier today.)