Hi, Bob.

BL>  FM> Hi, Bob. (Written in the blank line you *still* haven't
BL>  FM> explained.)

BL>   I like a blank at the top.

I can see that, matches your head.

BL> Why don't you leave a blank line at the top?

There's far too many blank lines in this universe already; YOU'RE
compounding the problem, I'm not about to.

BL>  BL> BTW, how do you know where to add your EOT? Read the Tear line,
BL>  BL> do you? If that's the case, what's it doing that the Tear line
BL>  BL> doesn't do? Your EOT logic is loony.

BL>  FM> Actually, that's a very good point. If an automated process can
BL>  FM> determine where to place a SOT/EOT pair, then by trivial proof
BL>  FM> a SOT/EOT pair ain't necessary.

BL>   ROFL!! I was beginning to think it was me...

BL>   I don't mind people clogging up a system with pointless duplication
BL> as long as it's easy to remove. The SOT is easy; just read down the
BL> message until you run out of #1 lines, it's just one more... but the
BL> EOT needs an additional step that slows the whole process. You have to
BL> find it so you can remove it! It's only purpose is to be removed!

I have concluded that a SOT is necessary in one rare circumstance (and
therefore should be present in a much larger set of not-so-rare
circumstances at least) and that EOT is never necessary. See my long
message to Paul for the justification, and of course I'd be interested
in your comments too.

BL>   For the life of me, I can't see why Paul can't see how fucking
BL> useless it is! It's supposed to define the end of the text. but it has
BL> to be insereted inside the tear line. Why not use the tear line? His
BL> argument is that the tear line is not compulsory. But neither is EOT!!

I agree with that.

BL>   And exactly the same loony logic applies at the other end with SOT.
BL> SOT is the last #1 kludge line; so is the one before. ROFL. If there
BL> are no kludge lines, then SOT has some value. It prevents a non-point
BL> lunatic adding his own #1 kludge line in Netmail at the head of his
BL> text, to post it untraceably in another echo, say.

No, SOT is needed in one case, and not to stop loonys either.

BL>   But it assumes a lunatic bent on stuffing the system to give SOT any
BL> value at all, and personally as a certified and fully accreditied
BL> lunatic, I'd just use Hexedit and change the address too.

There is another, valid, reason for SOT.

Regards, fIM.

 * * Time is an illusion. Lunchtime, doubly so.
@EOT:

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