Re: [Evolution] Evaluating Evolution- some basic questions [about the forced hyphens in signatures]

[Art Alexion <art rhd org>]

On Tue, 2009-02-24 at 10:45 -0500, George Reeke wrote:
> On Mon, 2009-02-23 at 13:11 +1100, Nick Jenkins wrote:
> > > Second, note the one hyphen in my signature above the longer
> series
> > > below?  I can't get rid of that "hovering hyphen."  I've edited my
> > > signature, of course, but that hovering hyphen doesn't appear
> there.
> > > How can I get rid of that?  
>
> I have a simple method of avoiding the hyphen issue that others might
> find useful:  I don't use the signature feature of evolution.
> Instead, I have a selection of various signature files (like the
> one below) in my home directory.  To add a signature to a mail
> I am composing, I use the "Insert" button and insert the signature
> as a text file (I never send html mail).  Then the software doesn't
> know it is a signature, but the recipient sees it as such.
> Of course, this might take too long if you send dozens of emails
> every day.
>
> George Reeke, Ph.D.
> Head, Laboratory of Biological Modelling
> The Rockefeller University
> 1230 York Avenue
> New York, NY  10065

I'm really trying to understand what is so objectionable about the
hyphens for some people.  I don't really understand.

I intentionally quoted Dr. Reeke's signature above to illustrate.

I don't like the fact that it isn't separated from the other paragraphs
in the email. I find it mildly disconcerting as such.  Even traditional
paper letters set off signatures from the body of the correspondence
with a close. like "sincerely yours", and usually a bit of extra white
space.  Often indented as well.

I don't mean to tell people how to write THEIR correspondence, but I'm
really not getting what the problem is, especially because I find the
hyphens (1) unobtrusive, (2) useful in delimiters between the
correspondence body and the often superfluous signature, (3) standards
compliant, and (3) a good way to automatically trim redundant
information.


-- 
Art Alexion
Resources for Human Development, Inc.          215-951-0300 x3075
4700 Wissahickon Ave.                                 art rhd org
Philadelphia, PA 19144                               267-615-3172