If you are able to see email with different font sizes and colors, you are using an email program that may be sending something called HTML code.  That is the code that is used to have colors and fonts on web pages.  There are many reasons why this is a bad and I'll list a few.

1. Many people use email programs that can't handle messages like that and your email can become almost impossible to read through all the <> signs.

2. HTML can sometimes double the length of your email message.  With as many mailing lists as many of us are on, we just don't need the longer messages.

3. Different fonts can be very hard to read.  Many times the writer chooses a font that is very difficult to read because it is so small or unusual.

4. Some programs will actually treat messages with HTML code as an attachment that has to be downloaded separately.

HTML

MS Internet Explorer 4.0
To turn off HTML code in MSIE 4.0, go to Mail, then Options, then Send.  Look for Mail Sending Options and mark Plain Text.

Netscape 4.0
To turn off HTML in Netscape, go to edit/preferences, then to ‘Category’ and choose ‘Mail & Groups’ and then select ‘Messages’.  Remove the check mark that says, “By default, send HTML messages”.  If you are using Netscape 3 you will be able to see messages sent in HTML but you won't be able to send it.

Eudora 4.0
In Eudora 4, go to Options then Miscellaneous then place a check mark by the “Discard styles before sending messages” option.

Eudora 4.02 and up
There is a major change in this version of the program and if you are using the previous version you should download the patch from www.eudora.com.  To turn off HTML in this version go to Tools/Options/Styled Text.  Then under "when sending mail with styled text" choose "send plain text only".

If you are able to see different fonts and the program you are using isn't mentioned here, please email me directly and I'll find out how to turn off that option.  I (with the permission of the various list owners) will be emailing this letter as a gentle reminder to people who continue to use different sized fonts and HTML code.