🚀 go-pugleaf

Phil Innes wrote:
>      I have some sympathy for Dave.

	I have more than some sympathy -- I agree with him entirely.

> [...]		Can't they elect to receive just plain text.

	No.  You post it, we receive it.  A browser might then do
clever things with it, but that's too late.
> 
>      Isn't it possible to elect to receive only plain text ?- then
>      those of us with html capacity can send BOTH.

	Why do you *want* to send both?  Text is just fine, and there
is no reason why a browser that wanted to be particularly helpful
couldn't offer to put in the HTML itself [but that's up to the
*receiver* to decide].  The case changes somewhat if you want to
send pictures and sounds with your message -- but that's not
currently "acceptable" on these groups.

>						      As for Exeter
>      University, can't they afford 32mbs of RAM to run the free
>      netscape 4.05, which comes with Collabra.

	I'm sure they can, and you don't need NS4 to view HTML.
But many of us actually *prefer* some of the older browsers,
such as "rn".

>      With this modern device, Dave, you will be able to see
>      whatever Sam Sloan would like you to.

	Yes.  And one day, some malicious idiot will post some
clever HTML with embedded [name your least favourite MIME type]
which will neatly wipe the hard discs of all the PCs running
NS or IE with the rather lax security that most users "prefer".
Those of us using text browsers will be *ever* so sympathetic.
And slightly smug.

-- 
Andy Walker, Maths Dept., Nott'm Univ., UK.
anw@maths.nott.ac.uk