Re: Re: HTML E-mails

The original post was NOT about the validity of HTML Email in the world, but about the specific code. The reality is that I don't like <BLINK>blinking text</BLINK>, and will ALWAYS advise my clients against it, but if they WANT it, then I give it to them... it's their money, their site. Subsequently, if my client wants HTML email, and they aren't swayed by advice to the contrary, then I have to deliver it, and deliver it within a sufficient timeframe, with minimal bugs and hiccups. Hence I (he/she) need to know how it's done. Anyway, regardless of the above, the following was a bit odd: on 21/07/02 10:39 PM, Mark Gallagher (mark@cyberfuddle.com) wrote: > It also doesn't add anything. Pretty colours and flashing lights make > it harder to read email, and even if you just restrict yourself to basic > document formatting, well, is it *that* important that your text is > shown as <strong>strong emphasis</strong> rather than *strong emphasis*? Following this same logic, should we all just use <PRE> formatted green text on a black background? If formatting doesn't add anything, and if pretty colours make things harder to read, and plain text-isms like *emphasis* are okay, then why have you bothered to learn HTML to a "high standard", and chosen to use colors, bold text, and other *simple* GUI tricks on your own webpage? Perhaps the web was perfected at HTML2.0? Things need to move forward, rather than staying in the archaic past. Formatted emails are a natural progression of their plain-text ancestors... in addition to simple GUI and useability benefits, they can also subtly add value to an email in the areas of branding. Bad HTML email has the same problem as bad HTML on the web -- written poorly. It's not HTML's fault, or HTML email's fault, it's the bad writer/designer. Also, MANY people offering HTML-formatted email also offer the option of plain text -- it's not like it's being force-fed to every user. FWIW: I don't send in HTML, I don't like reading HTML email, I don't run any mailing lists that use HTML mail. The issue isn't about my preferences, it's about logic. There is a place for HTML email, in the hands of the right people. Justin French