-=> Quoting Scott Hoffman to Todd Copeland <=-
-=> FidoMail to 1:163/215, please.-=<
TC> and confusion. Again, for the record: That is *** NOT *** READING
TC> E-mail! It's running code, period! I can READ that SAME code and
TC> *NOTHING* will happen!
sh> Well, I see your point, in a vague way but it makes no sense to
sh> me. READING E-MAIL rEQUIRES without question the launching of a
sh> program. You cannot run software without launching some sort of
sh> code be it a BBS program which handles it internally or a
sh> seperate e-mail program. 
That's _right_ Scott.  Now tell me:  _Why_ would a program designed
and intended to read and display text suddenly decide that was
boring, and _instead_ look for "executable code" in that text, and
load it an execute it?  _Why_ would it do that?
.
sh> Like I said, "reading" as you are phrasing it, only exists on a
sh> piece of paper. whenevr ASCII is run through a computerm,
sh> computer processes are executed to display it on the screen. 
sh> In many pieces of computer software the person isnt the only one
sh> who "reads" the messsages. Many times software programs will
sh> also "read" the message as it is displayed. The program looks 
sh> for special commands (like in BBS software you have "MCI codes"
sh> or on UNIX you can have a mail program that runs "scripts". 
And _only_ if the software is _intended_ to so that, Scott.  You are
postulating a "virus" contained in an E-mail that 
any program designed to display and process text will execute.
It ain't gonna happen.
TTFN. Rick.
Ottawa, ON 6 Apr 21:11 
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.20
---------------