Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!bu-cs!dartvax!northstar.dartmouth.edu!jarvis
From: jarvis@northstar.dartmouth.edu (Mark (Ninjabutler) Robinson)
Newsgroups: news.newusers.questions
Subject: Signature files
Summary: thanks in general to respondents, question, something else
Message-ID: <15069@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Date: 16 Aug 89 22:43:51 GMT
Sender: news@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU
Reply-To: jarvis@northstar.dartmouth.edu (Mark (Ninjabutler) Robinson)
Organization: Project NORTHSTAR, Dartmouth College
Lines: 57

I have no wish to begin a flame war on what people consider to be an acceptable
signature file.  Although I myself have begun posting to News only recently, I
feel that each person has their own opinion on what the perfect size, shape,
length, contents, etc., of a signature file should be.

Out of respect for the other users of News, however, I personally will try to
keep my signature files down to four lines in the future!

Does this restriction apply to mail sent through Internet and Usenet as well?
I would imagine so, since the baud rates are the same.  Why, then, is there no
restriction built into the mailing system for .signatures?

(This question originates from a nasty letter I received six months ago
concerning my very-old-and-now-unused, far-greater-than-four-line,
artistically-inclined-signature!  This particular user suggested that I use my
large signature file for private mailings, and my small signature for public
postings to News.)

One particularly interesting response I received through email was the
following:   :-)

============================================================================

Dear Miss Postnews: How long should my signature be? -- verbose@portal

A: Dear Verbose: Please try and make your signature as long as you can.
It's much more important than your article, of course, so try and have
more lines of signature than actual text.

Try and include a large graphic made of ASCII characters, plus lots of
cute quotes and slogans.  People will never tire of reading these pearls
of wisdom again and again, and you will soon become personally associated
with the joy each reader feels at seeing yet another delightful repeat of
your signature.

                                ------

Dear Emily: Today I posted an article and forgot to include my signature.
What should I do?  -- forgetful@myvax

A: Dear Forgetful: Rush to your terminal right away and post an article
that says, "Oops, I forgot to post my signature with that last article.
Here it is."

Since most people will have forgotten your earlier article, (particularly
since it dared to be so boring as to not have a nice, juicy signature)
this will remind them of it.  Besides, people care much more about the
signature anyway.  See the previous letter for more important details.

Also, be sure to include your signature TWICE in each article.  That way
you're sure people will read it.

                                ------
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= UMBRELLASWORD throwingplatter PLATTERCOVERSHIELD coatstaff CUTLERYLOCKPICK  =
= HB 1407                                     jarvis@northstar.dartmouth.edu  =
= Hanover, New Hampshire 03755                  jarvis@eleazar.dartmouth.edu  =