HTML/Rich email - Why?

[Shorty]

As Rys brought up the subject of poor English in IM/IRC, try this for a pet hate.

HTML/Rich text email.

[ rant ]

Email was designed to write a message and electronically pass it across to another. I don't need 25kb emails with nice underlined, fancy letters in 32 colours! I just need the information and attachments thanks.

I use GSM to collect my email while travelling (GPRS is a con). I don't really want to download 250kb of email's which are full of junk HTML tags/rich text. Just write it in plain text! I don't need fancy backgrounds, smilies, colours! Just the URL's, attachments and information.

Incredimail is the worst culprit what could be a simple 2kb email is turned into a 55kb bloat!

Even with 1mb connection both at home and work, I still prefer just good ol plain text. Takes a few seconds to download the lot.

Let alone the security risk of HTML in emails.. malicious code.. blah blah.. whine/pout/grumble...

[/ rant ]

[[GSV]Trig]

I hear that.....

[DaBeeeenster]

Hmmm. If you receive an HTML mail, the email client should send the email as MIME Multipart. I think you still need to download the entire message, but if it's a decent plain text client you are using it should strip out the plain text bit...

I know what you mean, it is kind of annoying.

What's worse is when you are talking to someone who is using Lotus Notes. All the replies come as .txt attachments...I mean, thanks for that one...

[Barry]

its 1 of the main reasons i use mail washer as it stripts it all down to plain text

[Rys]

This must rank alongside not spelling properly and talking like it's a mobile phone you are using other than a PC.

I detest massive emails where less than 10% is the actual email text. That can fall off the planet and die too.

I've actively started refusing emails, at the server, from people that I know will send me coloured, fonted to the eyeballs, rubbish.

Rys

[Trickle]

Originally posted by DaBeeeenster
Hmmm. If you receive an HTML mail, the email client shouldWhat's worse is when you are talking to someone who is using Lotus Notes. All the replies come as .txt attachments...I mean, thanks for that one...

Lotus Notes is the tool of the devil. I have to use it at work. I dont think they could have made it less intuitive if they had tried.

Edit:

This must rank alongside not spelling properly and talking like it's a mobile phone you are using other than a PC.

Try as hard as you might, spelling simply doesnt come naturally to all of us - if you have dyslexia for example.

I dont turn my nose up at people in life who cant manage to do calculus in their head, but I have to deal with people looking down on me every single day each time I make a spelling mistake no matter how hard I try. I'm currently using a terminal without MS Word for a spell checker and I hate it - even though I try to force myself not to use it as much as possible anyway.

[jamin]

Combine that with spam and you have a recipe that makes me want to physically go and remove the senders fingers!!

[Bunjiweb]

and i dont need to know how to enlarge my penis.... get a better morgage, or hold millions of dollars for some con man in Zimbabwi.

[steve threlfall]

Incredibly annoying. For me ign are the worst culrprit. I am not a gamer and right now just cant be bothered with it at all but after signing up to recieve movie news i get sent email offers about buying an xbox- html emails three copies, all at once bah

[Shorty]

//off-topic//

Originally posted by Bunjiweb
and i dont need to know how to enlarge my penis.... get a better morgage, or hold millions of dollars for some con man in Zimbabwi.

Is that just begging to be quoted??

//on-topic//

My argument remains that email should just be for email. Put it into words and hit send.

This is just so wrong :

Time to think of what to write in email = 10 seconds

Time to type email = 20 seconds

Time to format text, insert "stationery" (M$ should die for that idea) and other assorted junk = 2 minutes!

[spikegifted]

In sending an e-mail, you're sending out something that represents you. It's just like leaving a message on someone's voicemail or answer phone. How you want to be seen, though this e-mail, is entirely up to you. You can make yourself 1337, smart, dumb, stupid, intelligent - it's your choice.

[TiG]

You forget marketing companies get paid £K's to make these things up. Don't forget that.

TiG

[[GSV]Trig]

Originally posted by Bunjiweb
and i dont need to know how to enlarge my penis.... get a better morgage, or hold millions of dollars for some con man in Zimbabwi.

I almost went for the fuller firmer brests naturally tho, turns out you have to be a woman tho....

[Shad]

It used to be a considerable issue, but most (many) users are now at the end of a decent connection, where even a 50kb email takes just a second to download.

The same logic can be applied to web pages. When the Internet was just a passing fad, web pages were plain text and very simple, just as email was.

Times change.

[THCi]

Tis very annoying! But then, so many things on the net are!

Its a case of like it or lump it, or work out a way to get shot of it.

[Shorty]

Originally posted by THCi
Tis very annoying! But then, so many things on the net are!

Its a case of like it or lump it, or work out a way to get shot of it.

Im getting to the stage of getting a mail server up which will force convert the junk into plain text