Subject: Re: Bottom-posting etiquette   
   @MSGID: <4F333436.4315.dove-int@vert.synchro.net>   
   @REPLY: <4F30CACC.1474.dove-int@digitaldistortionbbs.com>   
   @TZ: 41e0   
   -=> Nightfox wrote to All <=-   
      
    Ni> Since I started using the internet, something that I've thought was   
    Ni> interesting is peoples' attitudes toward bottom-posting vs.   
    Ni> top-posting.  On BBSs, it has always been customary to bottom-post, and   
    Ni> that is also encouraged by the fact that BBS email software   
    Ni> bottom-posts by default.  This was also carried over to Usenet to some   
    Ni> extent, but other internet messaging software (email, in particular) is   
    Ni> usually made to top-post by default.  Thus, when people reply to email,   
    Ni> they usually top-post in their replies.  And when such people go   
    Ni> posting on Usenet (and sometimes on BBSs now), they top-post there, and   
    Ni> flame wars ensue as people get annoyed.   
      
   I think it's mostly a result of technology moving along.  In the early   
   days, modems were slow, and some people might take a couple weeks or   
   more before calling some systems, so it was just helpful to read the   
   pertinent quote BEFORE the reply.  Especially true for Fidonet   
   messaging where it would take three days to a week for the   
   conversation to make its rounds.   
      
   Now, with people typically checking at least once a day, oftentimes   
   more, and simple scrollbars on fast web browsers (not to mention pages   
   long unthreaded discussions), the quotes have been de-prioritized to   
   the bottom as mere reference.   
      
       
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