If I wanted HTML, I'd have said so

[redbird]

This is what I just put in as feedback on an airline's Web site:

I signed up for text-only email deliberately. It is easier for me to read, and reduces the risk of virus transmission.

I should not have had to log in to tell you not to change that to HTML.

I hope this doesn't mean you are going to change other of my travel-related preferences on the assumption that I was mistaken in selecting them.

I wouldn't mind so much if the email that included the threat to change what I'm getting hadn't started by saying they were sure I would prefer HTML email, and claimed that it was easier to read. Right. Large blocks of bright colors aren't easier to read. Never mind the people who send me stuff in black on dark gray, because they don't know how to set their preferences, and then act surprised when I ask them to turn HTML off, because they didn't know it was on.

Comments

[the-gardener.livejournal.com]

Receiving e-mail in HTML rather than plain text format annoys me too, especially as opening the piece of mail in question usually fires up the network dial-up box which then refuses to go away unless I delete the mail and close down the e-mail program. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to make e-mail programs HTML-capable deserves to have their head ripped off.

Call me an e-mail Luddite

[stealthpup.livejournal.com]

I never want to receive HTML e-mail. If they have an HTML page that I JUST HAVE TO SEE!!!!!, they can send me the URL to its location; that's all I'm willing to stomach.

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Another vote for plain text email. Yeah! I feel all curmudgeonly and grumpy, but really, I dislike html formatted email.

[volund.livejournal.com]

I have a simple method of dealing with most of the HTML-ized mail I receive -- I delete it. The odds are that it's SPAM.

What's additionally annoying is when they embed in the e-mail "if you want to reply"/"if you want to be removed"/etc. links that are URLs showing up only as, say, "CLICK HERE" -- especially since I often read my mail while it's still on the server, using Pine. Fortunately, the current versions of Pine are smart enough to be able to expand those links so that you can see what the actually URL is.

Not that submitting the instruction to be removed helps at all. It only tells them that they have a good e-mail address which they can now sell to another spammer.

Amen.

[isomorphisms.livejournal.com]

I use PINE, and some time ago, I got some HTML mail from Amazon.ca, which included the completely unhelpful instruction, in plain text, "to receive text-only mail, click here."

This reminds me that some time ago, I also sent some mail to Canadian Blood Services, telling them that their website was unreadable in older browsers, and in Lynx. Cripes, CBS is a volunteer-run (for the most part) charity - people who want to give blood, and who are eligible to give blood, shouldn't have to jump through hoops finding information.