A digression on netiquette [Re: My Signature, Median Income, etc.]

[Joseph N. Hall]

I am probably digging a hole by writing this, but here I go anyway.

The subject of "appropriate signature length" has come up in relation
to news groups, boards, mailing lists, and so forth, since such things
first existed. In fact the very first entry in the venerable "Emily
Postnews" FAQ on Internet netiquette addresses this question, although
from an older perspective.

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/emily-postnews/part1/

Having first appeared on or about August 1988, this guide is older
than some graduates of NCSSM.

http://groups.google.com/group/news.admin/msg/fb1424a502b460fb

The long-time guideline for signatures in a public forum has been a
maximum of 4 lines. In many places past and present a length limit of
some kind has been *enforced*. Some mail digesters strip signatures,
either in whole or in part. The thing people most want to know about
other people on this list is their year of graduation, which can be
summarized in three characters.

If you think this or my previous comment is a personal attack, your
hide is not of suitable thickness for the Internet. I'm saying your
signature looks ridiculous. That's not exactly calling your mother a
whore. Anyway, this being a public list, what is up for discussion is
not entirely up to you.

  -j ('82)

On 4/10/07, Douglas R. Massengill, Jr. <doug.massengill at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> First of all, I think that resulting to personal attacks is a little
> ridiculous, especially in this community.  My EMAIL signature, which
> coincidently, is the one I use on all my emails, is not up for discussion
> nor should it be criticized by a group of educated professionals.


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