Why do people detest top posting so much?

[Res]

On Mon, 23 Feb 2009, Thorny wrote:

>> Its down to laziness on those who dont know how to CUT qoutes and comment
>> inline to them, remove the shit you are not going to directly respond to,
>
> Well Rez, although I agree with most of what you wrote, which I snipped, I
> do want to point out that whoever is paying for the equipment and
> maintenance to host the list we are using for free, probably does have
> some inherent right to specify terms of service. If there is a standard
> then people who want to use the list probably should consider following it.

So, it they insisted we all correct grammar and punctuation, does that 
mean we need to? I can see their list server being in idle state for most
of its life if that's the case. They have a right to ensure its not being
abused thats for sure, but telling people how to post that does not contain
abuse (yes I've been guilty many a times) or threats etc, is surely 
unenforceable.

> In addition, if there is a format which increases the chances that someone
> asking for help will get help from the most knowledgeable and helpful

That's the same for everywhere, being it lists or usenet, but it someone 
is so pedantic they wont help someone because the seeker top posted, I 
think that says one HELL of a lot about the person who refuses to help them,
and nothing about the one seeking help.

> degenerate into what we are all reading, which many of us have seen time
> and again and which just add noise to the archives.

Most threads go OT at some point and end up being high noise to low 
signal, I myself confess I stopped reading 3 posts after the OP's initial
post in this thread, because even by then it was noise and without wasting
my time reading all the others prior to my post, I'm pretty sure i know
what they were all ranting on about :)

Cheers



-- 
Res

-Beware of programmers who carry screwdrivers