🚀 go-pugleaf

In <6f9k5i$5gc$1@toto.tig.com.au> "Nicholas Buenk" <nospam@nospam.com> writes:

>So he one of those people who still use a black & white tv and analog mobile
>phone. He would be bying a diligtal tv any time soon.

No...You are missing the point. 

Do you use a hammer to get a screw out? No. You use a screwdriver.

Usenet is *designed* and *intended* to be a text medium. A few parts of
are used, co-incidentally, to carry encoded binary data, but they are
an exception, and their propogation is falling. 

HTML is another form of binary data - especially when in the form of
multi-part MIME messages, with the graphics included. One of the aspects
of the wa.general (and the various aus. groups this is cross-posted to) 
charter is that they are NON-BINARY groups. 

As such, the use of HTML - and especially MIME-encapsulated HTML - is
inappropriate. 

You would be, I imagine, be displeased with anyone who insisted on 
using a modem to phone you, and talking to you only with - say - 
RealAudio. But it is a practical use of the bandwidth. It's the new
way of doing things. What? You're still using a *telephone*? Get a life!
Get a real piece of telecommunications equipment!

That is what you are suggesting.

Use the Web for HTML, and HTML for the Web. Use TEXT for Usenet. The
right tool for the right job. As an added bonus, more people will
understand you. And that's the whole idea, ne?

>>Robin Harrison wrote:
>>
>>> >>Usenet is a strictly text based medium
>>
>>                        ^^^^^^who says?

Amongst other things, the groups' charters. Binary data is acceptable
*only* in the relevant binary groups.

>>> >>and HTML only increases
>>> >>bandwidth to no good effect.
>>
>>I don't believe what I'm reading! A sci-fi buff advocating that we
>>should all remain in the dark ages because change makes him
>>uncomfortable!!

No - someone advocating the use of the right tool.

>>
>>> >People who have no clue that this is a shared resource, but see
>>> >it as anything else on their PC, something they can do what
>>> >they want with.
>>yes, I quite agree - you can't have people doing whatever they want with
>>their own PC. It'll be all out anarchy! </sarcasm>

Not really. You are being deliberately dense here. Stop it.

>>> >Same as pirate software really.
>>>
>>you really hit the nail on the head that time! Using your PC to mail
>>hypertext is EXACTLY like illegally copying software. EXACTLY!

Still being dense.

>>> >Those who do own the resources will eventually have to get rather
>>> >more agressive..  I hope.
>>
>>The easy solution is, I guess that you get yourselves a decent HTML
>>reader. Netscape is quite adequate for the job. Reading plain text does
>>not make you a more hardcore user than anyone else.

Netscape is atrocious. Try nn! Whoops! Sorry, no, you can't use that,
after all it is free. And does not grok HTML. And allows KILL FILES.
And THREADING. And SORTING. And other nice stuff that 'Scrape does
not allow.

You owe the Oracle a five thousand word essay on the history and social
structures of USENET.




-- 
Rob Masters, Metapro Systems P/L.   Adjust address to reply <std/disclaimer.h>
"Splee three frooKs, biffle preden7ine mass." -Nik, Fodunk of the Glass Sveege
"Oh my god! They killed Kenny!" - Southpark <*> "Next time - my way." - B5.
"One less luser to lart is one less luser to lart."-A.Smith, after Pope Cerebus