I've been on this forum for some time, and I've learned quite a bit. Slowly, I have started to return the favour. But I have run into a slight problem.

I am a strong proponent of web standards, and have worked hard to bring my own website up to those standards. Some of the advice I see on these forums goes against what I have learned is the best way to do a page, including coloured scrollbars (which do not work in most browsers, nor are they valid CSS), tables for laying pages out (which causes serious code bloat), and use of presentational HTML (such as <font> and <center> tags).

So what should I do? Should I speak up, saying "This sort of thing is not advisable", or "there is a better way to do this"? Should I hold my peace? Or should I simply give advice, that goes against everything that I have learned?

nobody has perfect code. They jsut do it the way they like it. also about tables: code bloat? coding tables make the source neat and tidy most of the time. It is also way easier for most peopel to find what they are looking for when doing changes. Tables are also a lot easier to use when making a layout that expands and shrinks according to the users resolution.

anyway coding is all about personal preference. What works for you, may not work for others. You are welcome to speak yoru mind. But i hardly doubt many people will chang from their regular practices just to do it what you feel is the right way.

it depends on the situation.

answering a posted question should be about answering the actual question.

when the original question usually asks a specific thing, we should be willing to provide an answer directly relating to that question.

you may provide brief information stating there is an alternate way of creating the same effect which may also be a benefit in future coding, but it is a waste going into any real big detail or debate about it unless the original poster asks about it. going into details about an alternate way (without them asking about it) may confuse them as they are still new to things and wanted to do it "this" way as they are learning.

one way or another, sooner or later, many people will see there are better ways of doing things. it has to be done at their own pace when they are ready for it.

(my apologies to you if you took offence to a recent edit).

One thing to note about this is to always be polite. Theres nothing i personally hate more than w3c fanatics who belittle other people.
Like PB&J said...mention there is a different way to do something by all means, don't tell someone 'ugh, don't use that code...its so not the right way to do it, try this instead...' and certainly don't go around posting 'dont use coloured scrollbars, they arent up to w3c standards!!' in every thread where someone simply asks for the code (as someone once did).
Be polite, make sure what you are saying is actually answering a question rather than just...preaching...and you can't go far wrong :)