Internet Etiquette

This page explains my opinions on the subject of Internet etiquette (sometimes called Netiquette):

Email Etiquette

I do not like to receive top posted replies to email. If you're reading this, it is probably because I've sent you a link so that you can read about a better way to reply to email:

I also do not like to receive HTML email. Some people who use their web browser to send and receive email, don't seem to realise that others do not. Email that contains HTML tags can often appear as gibberish to recipients who choose to use non-graphical or specialised email software. Other problems include:

Opening HTML email can invade the recipients privacy. For example, the sender can arrange for non-cacheable links to be fetched so that they are notified when the recipient has opened the email. The sender may even be able to use this information to determine where you were at the time that you read the email.
HTML can override a users selected font and colour preferences.
Many email born viruses are transmitted via HTML email.
Mailing list digests and archives handle HTML email badly, sometimes even refusing to accept such email.
Much spam is written in HTML. Some people therefore choose to block HTML email as a means of spam reduction.
HTML wastes bandwidth and storage space, an issue if you're downloading to a PDA or via a mobile phone.
HTML was designed for the web. Effective email communication can and often does use plain text.

Finally, for mailing list administrators, an explanation of why Reply-To header munging is such a bad thing:

"Reply-To" Munging Considered Harmful

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