Re: desirability of boxquote-style snippets for helping new users

[Samuel Wales]

On 1/15/09, Kevin Rodgers <kevin.d.rodgers@gmail.com> wrote:
>> However, most prefix every line.  For example, boxquote by default uses
>> "|".
>>
>> While an experienced user can figure out rectangle commands or write a
>> command to unpack the quote, new users and users who can't type much
>> might skip using the code to avoid having to do that.  And a very new
>> user could actually stick the whole thing in .emacs and wonder why it
>> doesn't work.  It adds to the burden of fixing a problem or meeting a
>> need in emacs without providing much benefit.  Even a few keystrokes
>> can do that.
>>
>> Perhaps quotes of code, in all packages like boxquote, could by
>> default get fancy only on the lines precediing and following.
>>
>> What do you think?
>
> ,----[ C-h f boxquote-unbox RET ]
> | boxquote-unbox is an interactive compiled Lisp function in `boxquote.el'.
> | (boxquote-unbox)
> |
> | Remove the boxquote that contains `point'.
> |
> | [back]
> `----

thanks for your suggestion.

as i said, i am suggesting that the prefixed lines should never be
prefixed in the first place.  i don't think it adds enough to outweigh
the extra keystrokes, rectangle, boxquote package, etc.  i don't think
all newcomers will know what to do.

imho, above and below quoting is a preferable default convention.
exceptions are few and can be optional.