try looking at these two nodes for more info:

fixing what textareas do to input
ASCII to HTML

both are relevant to this. Also, remember that when you think of a good title for your question, put that title into the search box and search on it. You'll be surprised what you can find. =)

Update: Please don't take this as a lecture. Asking questions like this one is what this whole section is about. I point out the option to search simply because itcan save *you* time and get you answers in terms that may help you rephrase the questions - which is sometimes all you need to do to get to the answers yourself. =)

"A man's maturity -- consists in having found again the
seriousness one had as a child, at play."   --Nietzsche
[download]