* seanlkml@xxxxxxxxxxxx > HTML is not a universal WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) > HTML and the 'equivalent' text of a MIME message may not be equal > HTML can Carry mixed character sets unnoticed by the sender > - Why are any of these a concern? Because the message is read differently by different readers. > > HTML permits volatile external content references > - In fact many plain text messages provide links to external content, > in fact *your* plain text message included a URL to external content! > This "reason" doesn't pass the smell test. > > HTML can carry text that is problematic to index / search > - Huh? The entire web is based on HTML and google indexes it just fine Local search becomes problematic. _My_ local search at least. My email agent doesn't like html. > HTML facilitates spammers > HTML facilitates spyware > HTML rich content hobbles off line interaction. > - How? I receive HTML email from family members, no problem. Why is this an an issue? > > HTML facilitates virus payloads (at work some of must use WindowZ) > - Sucks, but is not the senders problem, its yours and your companies. > In fact, viruses infected files can be attached to plain text > messages just as easily, a properly configured client won't be > at risk in either case. > > HTML permits you to get fired by triggering pornographic references > "censorware" to catch employees trying to access "bad" sites > that corporate filters trigger, i.e. trigger HTTP proxy > (porn, hate sites, hacking sites, etc) > - This is just laughable It is not. If html is banned in serious email, mailing lists and on the Usenet news, you could just filter out _all_ html and therefore illegal content without the risk. > > HTML messages are 2 to 50+ times larger than the equivalent text > - This seems like the only issue that has any real weight behind it > and since the list is voluntary.... If this is such a big problem > why doesn't RedHat filter HTML email rather than putting up with all > the bandwidth consumed talking about it? In fact, why respond > on-list asking people to stop posting in HTML if this is the issue? Good idea. -- Jon Haugsand Dept. of Informatics, Univ. of Oslo, Norway, mailto:jonhaug@xxxxxxxxxx http://www.ifi.uio.no/~jonhaug/, Phone: +47 22 85 24 92
