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From: spaf@gt-karloff.UUCP
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: Re: .signature line limit
Message-ID: <14080@gatech.EDU>
Date: Sun, 22-Mar-87 13:35:03 EST
Article-I.D.: gatech.14080
Posted: Sun Mar 22 13:35:03 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 23-Mar-87 07:19:31 EST
References: <1893@uwmcsd1.UUCP>
Sender: news@gatech.EDU
Reply-To: spaf@gt-karloff.UUCP (Gene Spafford)
Distribution: na
Organization: Software Engineering Research Center (SERC), Georgia Tech
Lines: 34
Keywords: Grumble grumble grumble

In article <1893@uwmcsd1.UUCP> jgd@uwmcsd1.UUCP (John G Dobnick) writes:
>By the way, the following (manually included) .signature file is 277 characters
>long, including the leading "-- ".  I *could* fit it on four lines, but it
>wouldn't be readable.  :-)
>-- 
>John G Dobnick
>Computing Services Division @ University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
>UUCP: {ihnp4|uwvax|uwmacc}!uwmcsd1!jgd
>INTERNET: jgd@csd1.milw.wisc.edu
>
>"Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation,
>and is thus a source of civilized delight."  -- William Safire

Sure it would!  Just delete those last three lines you have in there 
with the quote, and you have a nice 4-line signature.

The four line limit was carefully chosen so that you have room for your
full name, an organization/title, and two lines of address.  It is
*NOT* necessary to enlighten us with maps, pictures, quotes from
interesting sources, circuit diagrams, passages from religious works,
or other cruft.  If you want to pass along such enlightenment to us, do
it in the body of the message.

I love instructive epigrams and quotes, but they don't belong in
standard signatures.  The signature is to identify the sender and
indicate some way of responding reliably via e-mail.  If you need to
demonstrate how erudite and insightful you are, please do so in the
*article itself.*  Many people set up their news software to not
display the signatures at all unless specifically requested -- your
literary efforts just add to transport overhead.
Gene Spafford
Software Engineering Research Center (SERC), Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332
CSNet:	Spaf @ GATech		ARPA:	Spaf@Gatech.EDU
uucp:	...!{akgua,decvax,hplabs,ihnp4,linus,seismo,ulysses}!gatech!spaf