Top posting makes sense in a number of instances, and just because something is
the "norm" does not make it appropriate in all cases. When responding to a
number of issues in a single post, top posting may be considered dumb, but when
basically responding to one issue, top posting is appropriate.
Top posting does NOT foul up the order people normally read text since prior
messages have all the details and makes it far easier to follow the flow of an
online conversation. If someone has a faulty memory, then the memory joggers can
be found in the text below the post.
I get far more annoyed at:
1) long posts with one liners inserted someplace.
2) not trimming out parts of a message not being responded to.
3) not changing the subject line to reflect the content.
4) not putting a space between the portion of the message being responded to,
and the comments.
The whole object of posting is communication, and the form used should be in a
manner best suited to promote that communication.
From: David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu>
I'm not an old fart and I consider top posting a
Rude Thing...
A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?