What is proper (and improper) to post in alt.html?
Encouraged topics include:
- Any question pertaining the the use of HTML
- Discussion of W3C recommendations
- Design issues involved in authoring world wide web documents
- Request for a site critique (see below on how to get your site critiqued)
- Implementation issues involved in launching a website
- Issues involved in running a web site.
Things you are likely to get flamed about:
- Advertisement for a "Webdesign" or "HTML Help" site
- Off topic posts - technical stuff not related to web development or design.
- Trolls. (i.e. "Microsoft is better then Netscape!", "What resolution does everyone use?", "How do I hide my source code?")
Although there are many specialised newsgroups dealing with Javascript, CGI, stylesheets, webmastering, questions and discussions about it are still welcome in alt.html. You may get a technically better answer in specialised newsgroups. Many of the regulars in alt.html are also regulars in these specialised groups anyway.
If you wish for your site to be critiqued there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Don't get angry if people respond negatively about your site! By asking for a critique you are asking for an honest opinion.
- Include the URL to your site! This is the leading mistake people make when requesting a critique; they don't give the site URL.
- Include a description of the site - interesting sites with good content give you a better chance of an in-depth critique.
- Don't pass of advertising your site as a critique request. If you want to advertise, alt.html is not the place for it.