How to Post Professionally

Subject: How to Post Professionally
From:
Date: 05 May 98 - 09:59 PM

Would someone post the secrets for skipping lines, beginning new lines, etc., on this forum. I vaguely remember seeing it somewhere once, but can't find it now. Specifically, how is everybody else able to start new lines. Mine just go on and on. Thanks.

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Alice
Date: 05 May 98 - 10:34 PM

The most recent is towards the end of the thread:
Where is Spancil Hill?

amateur postmistress, alice

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Will
Date: 05 May 98 - 10:56 PM

Nathan, I renewed a thread on HTML commands that has some of what you want, and a bunch more. 'bout the only HTML command I use is <br>, which breaks a line without leaving a space between the lines. But you can get a lot fancier, as our colleagues demonstrate so effectively. Gotta get around to figuring out how to make a clickable link in the middle of the text.

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From:
Date: 06 May 98 - 05:17 AM

Essentially all of these "tricks" are just part of the HTML (Hypertext Meta Language.) If you want to see how to do everything, including clickable links, try the HTML primer at http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimerAll.html

(That URL should all be on one line.)

Some browsers might automate the process more.

The little window we use for posting seems to provide the at the beginning and the at the end, so you don't have to include that.

Murray

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Rodney
Date: 06 May 98 - 08:00 AM

HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language, actually. I find this easy to remember because it is essentially the same as the system of markup codes that is used in the field of book publishing. We call first-level headings "h1," second-level ones "h2," etc. and similarly for all other design elements of a book. This system was in use in publishing long before the Internet!

When you put a line between "h6" HTML codes, this is what you get.

Etc.

Rodney Rawlings

Stop the Persecution of Bill Gates and Microsoft - Stop the Punishment of Success for Being Success

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Bert
Date: 06 May 98 - 11:02 AM

Hey Max,

Would it be possible to put a few buttons alongside the reply to thread box so that we could just hit a button to insert a linefeed and some of the more common HTML commands?

Bert.

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Harald
Date: 06 May 98 - 04:28 PM

and how about a button for bold type letters, blinking ones and one to insert pictures ?
And every hit will take another three minutes (at least with my modem). I see no problem in typing <br>. And for all I see this forum´s main goal in the exchange of songs and thoughts rather than in professional designed textelements.

Regards, Harald (who likes it the way it is..)

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 98 - 04:40 PM

Yeah, Harald, I agree with you. I get a little rush of machismo when I'm able to enter obscure HTML codes and work wonders. Since I never made a mark on an athletic field, it's nice to be able to consider myself an HTML jock.
-Joe Offer (who likes it the way it is)-

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Harald
Date: 06 May 98 - 05:10 PM

...and just to continue complaining:
Rodney, please stop the persecution of Microsoft persecuters ! I will get a persecution complex if I´m persecuted by your anti-persecution-signum any longer.

Harald (who is proud user of Netscape!)

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 06 May 98 - 05:20 PM

G'Day Bert,
Do a forum search for a thread called How To.
It has all that Mudcatters need to know about HTML.

Regards Ted (who likes it as it is)

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Will
Date: 06 May 98 - 10:04 PM

Max, please keep it simple.

Will (who likes it)

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From:
Date: 07 May 98 - 06:24 AM

Bert, your browser/operating system probably has a way to assign the text of most-used HTML commands to "hot keys". This would be more efficient. Then Max can simply mount a link to a page with most used HTML commands that need only be used once (per upgrade?). You would have to tweak the one that gives cross references each time you use it, I'll admit.

Rodney, you are absolutely right (about the name). I was recently involved in an SML and an SGML project at the same time. SML stands for STandard Meta Language and SGML stands for Standardized Markup Language, of which HTML is an instance. I get them hopelessly confused to this day.

Murray

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Rodney Rawlings
Date: 07 May 98 - 08:10 AM

For my answer to Harald see the thread titled "Words to: "Ghost Riders in the Sky" wanted."

Rodney

Stop the Persecution of Bill Gates and Microsoft - Stop the Punishment of Success for Being Success

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 May 98 - 04:33 PM

Well, Rodney, you're entitled to your opinion and I tend to agree with it to a point. It's the constant repetition that tends to annoy people, I think - especially since Bill Gates and Microsoft have so little to do with the primary topic of this forum, which is folk music. You can say what you want and add whatever you like to your signature block. You might wonder, though, whether you convince or repel people by the way you present your ideas. It kind of feels like bombardment, rather than persuasion. I tend to bombard people with my opinions myself, so I try to watch the effects I have on others. If people respond negatively, then maybe I should try a different approach.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Pete M
Date: 07 May 98 - 05:15 PM

The history of the computer industry is littered with brilliant and innovative products and ideas which were swallowed or crushed by American companies who invested heavily in marketing hype rather than R&D. We may have to put up with M'Soft products on PC's for a few more years yet, but if "persecuting" Bill Gates and Microsoft prevents the corporate world from forcing NT on us as a de facto standard purely on the basis of up front costs, whoever does the persecuting has done us all a favour.

The net community has shown that far better products than those available commercially can be produced, distributed and supported by a community effort eg, pgp, linux, perl, gnu etc. DONT LET MICROSOFT DESTROY IT.

Pete M (IT practitioner for 20+ years)

PS Sorry for deviating from the thread, but as Joe says, somethings get right up my nostril.

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From:
Date: 07 May 98 - 08:47 PM

Rodney, can I suggest that you use a less contnetious name for your link--like "about Microsoft and the Anti-Trust laws". Then people who are interested can see what you have to say, and it won't break the continuity of the thread so much.

I don't want to get into the fray, but I have to agree with Pete that the free software developed on the Internet is far superior to what the commercial developers have been putting out. This method of producing software seems to be very sucessful despite dire predictions of the chaos that would result. I have been a user of Linux almost since it was coupled with enough GNU software to be usable. I wouldn't go back to Windows or MacOS for anything.

Murray

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Sheye
Date: 08 May 98 - 10:11 AM

Methinks Gates has it well within his grasp to engage those professionals to help him with his plight, but if you're interested in chasing a cause for the sake of chasing a cause, feel free to jump on a soapbox for me. Cheques can be made payable to my Hawaii Fund. We thank you for your support...

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Dan Mulligan
Date: 08 May 98 - 07:34 PM

Oh my god!
I just visited Rodney's web site. It is kind of like what you would get if Rush Limbaugh was into music theory.
We may have actually found a bigger windbag than Bruce!
Bruce you HAVE to visit this guys site! He has an even bigger ego than you! You guys could debate the value of blah blah blah blah ad nauseum.
signed:
The Tinwhistler's Mutha
(I use Netscape 'cause it is better, and I wish I had a Mac.)

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 May 98 - 08:05 PM

As for myself, I'd like to see a kinder, gentler Mulligan. Be nice, Dan. You don't see anybody else here hurling insults like that. It's not the folkie way. We try to be a little more subtle. ; )
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Will
Date: 09 May 98 - 01:37 AM

Dan, there's an easy way to deal with a discussion or a web page that doesn't interest you. Just click your mouse and it'll go to Kansas.

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: John Nolan
Date: 09 May 98 - 05:56 PM

Joe: I would respectfully point out that in your admonition of Dan Mulligan, you said "It's not the folkie way". This should surely read, "It's not the Mudcat way." I have been a folkie for over 40 years, and have found the folkie "norm" varies greatly from country to country. America seems to have more polite, middleclass, liberal, tea-drinking windbags, and that's okay...on the other end of the spectrum, Scottish folkies tend more towards socialism, strong drink and forthright but terse language. Our man Mulligan may well hail from this latter school and thus could claim to be every bit as folkie, or even folkier than thou. But when in Mudcatville, do as the Mudcatters...so one must not tell Rodney tae away an' bile hiz heid.

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 May 98 - 06:20 PM

"tell Rodney tae away an' bile hiz heid."

Well, heck John, if you say it that way, you can get away with anything. Still and all, I think that personal attacks tend to scare good people away and detract from the good spirit of the forum here.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Dan Mulligan
Date: 10 May 98 - 04:33 PM

I'm sorry.... was it something I said?
I am sure that Rodney loved the comparison to Rush Limbaugh, and Bruce has been called a windbag numerous times here at Mudcat and nobody ever complained before.
(By The Way, John: Bagpipe bands and Celtic folk groups, but I will try to behave myself. *grin*)

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Rodney Rawlings
Date: 11 May 98 - 09:37 PM

The reason I go for the "constant repetition" is to counteract the near-universal proselyetizing of the pro-antitrust position vis-à-vis the Microsoft issue. It struck me a while ago that putting the anti-antitrust link into my signature would be an ideal way to gently prod intelligences and to give some publicity to the arguments of that side of the controversy.

If some people find it annoying, it is because, I suspect, they like to feel that everyone agrees with them, and the reminder that this is not true is hard to take.

Personally, I am exhilarated and challenged by rational debate. But I stress the word rational. I hearby leave this thread.

Mr. Nathan Sarvis, I am sorry for what has happened to your thread, but not because I feel responsible.

Rodney Rawlings

Subject: RE: How to Post Professionally
From: Bill D
Date: 11 May 98 - 10:15 PM

" Bruce has been called a windbag numerous times here at Mudcat and nobody ever complained before."

beggin' yer pardon, but I, specifically, have objected before, as have a couple of others!...you went out of your way to make personal remarks about Bruce, when all you need do is ignore them if you don't want to read dry old passages about history..(which some people LOVE!)Give it a rest, Dan...