[Mimedefang] HTML mail

Matthew.van.Eerde at hbinc.com Matthew.van.Eerde at hbinc.com
Wed Dec 10 12:06:26 EST 2003


> Anyone who sends an e-mail of type multipart/alternative like this:
> 
> 	Part 1:  "Sorry, you can't see this cool e-mail"
> 	Part 2:  (Flashy HTML mail with all kinds of content)
> 
> is violating RFC 1521, in my opinion.  Section 7.2.3 of the RFC reads:
> 
>    Systems should recognize that the content of the various parts are
>    interchangeable.  Systems should choose the "best" type 
> based on the
>    local environment and preferences, in some cases even through user
>    interaction.
> 
> Note:  "the content of the various parts ARE INTERCHANGEABLE."
> 
> In my local environment, the "best" type is the plain-text type, and
> if people send garbage mail like the example above, then they deserve
> to have their mail discarded.  In fact, the only mail I've seen like
> this is either spam, or pseudo-spam newsletters whose senders need a
> smack on the head with a clue-by-four.  (I love that phrase. :-))

OK, but explain RFC 1521 to the upper management officer who is negotiating
a new e-mail marketing campaign with an outside agency and can't see it.

I have no problem with the option to delete HTML parts.  As long as it's an
option.  It's kind of a scary option, because it deletes content without the
administrator specifically saying to do so.  As such I think having the
option on by default is likely to burn a lot of administrators.  Paul's idea
of making it an option during installation seems to make sense.



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