Thanks for your last post. Now I understand why this is *not* the way I should reply! I didn't realize it was bad netiquette and generally inconsiderate to put replies to posts before the material you are referring to. What was I thinking? It somehow never occurred to me that *other* people at *other* times and *other* contexts might also be reading this stuff. It also somehow never occurred to me that there was a reason that others were putting things in a logical, user-friendly order. Anyway, I will be a good Ruby citizen and practice good netiquette from now on. :-) Ruby Fan Number 3,141,592 wrote: > As a member of the "Big 8" newsgroups, "The Ruby Way" (of posting) is to > follow USENET Netiquette when posting to comp.lang.ruby or to the ruby-talk > mail list (which is mirrored to comp.lang.ruby). > > The following reminder is taken from the comp.lang.ruby Newsgroup FAQ. And > please note the paragraph that starts "PLEASE NOTE!". > > 2.2 Tell me the posting guidelines for comp.lang.ruby. > > (You should also follow these guidelines for the ruby-list mail > list, since it is mirrored to comp.lang.ruby.) > > (1) Keep your content relevant and easy to follow. Try to keep > your content brief and to the point, but also try to include > all relevant information. > > (a) The general format guidelines (aka USENET Netiquette) are > matters of common sense and common courtesy that make life > easier for 3rd parties to follow along (in real time or > when perusing archives): > > - PLEASE NOTE! Include quoted text from previous posts > *BEFORE* your responses. And *selectively* quote as much > as is relevant. > - Use *plain* text; don't use HTML, RTF, or Word. Most > mail or newsreader program have an option for this; if > yours doesn't, get a (freeware) program or use a > web-based service that does. > - Include examples from files as *in-line* text; don't > use attachments. >