[ADMIN] Repost of FAQ

[Guest guest]

Hi All:

 

I am reposting the list FAQ, as there have been a couple of minor

additions and requests. I'd encourage you to read it; if you don't

have time right now, it's always available as a text file in the group

shared files on the home page.

 

Thanks,

Caroline

*********

 

FAQ & ROAD RULES-- Revised 5/2001

 

Okay, it's true--some people get confused about mailing lists!!

Since that's the case, this letter was developed, explaining how to

, the shoulds and why fores, as well as other stuff.

 

COMMON COURTESY

 

Being in a forum like this over time takes a modicum of maturity and

cooperation. Like being in a

large, communicative family, we have to be tolerant and careful with

each other, and help each other

maintain the peace as much as we are capable of.

The rules of the road are suggestions, and we must all bear in mind

that we are individuals, and that

" compost happens " . Newbies and such are given a wider berth, and all

rules are merely suggestions, not

laws. If you have any questions about policy or moderation, please

discuss it offlist with Caroline.

 

FANCY FONTS

 

Don't use any fancy formatting in the message or in your signature.

Bold,

underline, italics, big fonts, little fonts, stationery or colors.

These are known as

HTML codes and they play havoc with those poor folks unable to read

'em. They may look pretty to you,

but some browsers do not support them,

and it is generally accepted protocol to send all your messages in

plain text to email lists. If

you know how to modify your message to send plain text, do it. If not,

send

a note, tell us the e-mail program you use, and somebody here will

help you configure it.

You can also try

http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/listowners/html-off.htm

 

SAVE BANDWIDTH

 

When you reply to as message, always remove the excess from the bottom

of the

message leaving just the critical parts. There's rarely a need to

repeat

the entire thread and it sometimes discourages people from reading the

message. This is *especially* important if you get digest format!

Besides,

it looks awfully messy. Remember, each new message has a tag line--

the ad and other info--stuck to the bottom. Also, if you

are prone to one liners or off topic comments, add " chat " to the

subject line, please.

 

FIX THE SUBJECT LINE

 

As with the message, consider cleaning up lengthy Fwd: Fwd: Re: Fwd:

subject line on fifth-generation messages. If you reply to

the digest, try

changing the subject instead of " Re: Digest #308 " which is pretty

useless to the reader.

If you find that your discussion of one subject has shifted into

another subject, then

do others the courtesy of changing that subject line again.

 

OFF-SUBJECT POSTING

 

When at all possible, avoid the temptation to utilize the list as a

forwarding address

for spam, chain letters, long articles, and personal promotion. There

is a large area in

the Member Center of for shared files, which can be used for

temporary upload

and sharing of material that the group might like to see, and other

items can be privately

forwarded offlist. Under no circumstances send an attachment of any

kind to the list, no

matter how small it is or how cute you think it is. Attachments are

removed by the list

server, and forwarded posts are seen as attachments and also removed.

If you

don't know if it is a " fit " for , please send it to Caroline

and she'll review it

for you and forward it on to the list if it is appropriate.

 

While humor is always appreciated, try to keep it on topic and please

be conscious

of the feelings of others... in other words, avoid humor that promotes

negative stereotypes

and/or might be seen as an insult by a member of the community.

 

Please remember that this is not a bulletin board for sales or

personal promotion.

NO MLMs WILL BE TOLERATED... though we don't mind referral of classes,

techniques,

websites and products by members, it should be in context and not

simply to spam the

group... frankly, it would be better if you asked permission first, so

that you can

place a preface on your post that it has been approved by the

moderators. If you

choose to ignore this, you may run the risk of being moderated.

 

FLAMES & TROLLS

 

Flaming is aggravated assault on a person using email as a weapon. It

will not be tolerated.

Naturally, sometimes discussions get heated, but we want to keep the

flavor of debate, and away

from personal slurs or innuendoes. We're all adults, here. If

someone gets out of hand, they will

get a verbal warning, and if they persist, will be put in " time out "

by having their posts screened.

If all else fails, they will be d and banned. I don't

expect any Trolls,

but if a person shows up on the list making inappropriate, shocking,

or deliberately incidiary

remarks, they will be warned, and removed if they persist. We want

this to be a safe forum, fun and informative.

 

VACATIONS

 

If you are going on vacation and don't want emails to pile up while

you are

gone, use the " No Mail " option. By setting to No Mail on your " My

Groups " page,

you will turn off mail delivery for that list. Mail will not

be saved while you are not receiving email. That's especially

important if

you set your e-mail program to respond to messages automatically as it

will

avoid dozens of " I'm out of the office " messages sent to the list.

How horrible!

You don't want them to be waiting for you with torches when you get

back.

 

DIGEST

 

New to the list? You can catch up by reading the old messages in the

View

Archives area of the list.

If you want to *change* to digest, visit the member center, or send a

blank email to -digest

Want to change it back? Send a blank email to

-normal

 

TO UNSUBSCRIBE

 

Wow... simple. Either visit the member center, or send a blank email

to -

DON'T SEND EMAILS TO A DISCUSSION LIST ASKING TO BE UNSUBSCRIBED!!

 

TO GET HELP

 

A general eGroups FAQ is available at

/info/faq.html

This file will be archived under the Shared Files area of .

 

TO REACH LIST MOM

 

Send an email first to -owner (that will flag

it as important for Caroline)

or to her private email address, crow with something

about in the subject line.

And please try to be as self-sufficient as possible within the

parameters of your ability.

List Mom is not here to do your housekeeping ;-)

 

**********************************************************************

********************************

The main, most important thing about this list, and your

participation, is leaning, learning, and love.

Have fun, share, and enjoy this time we have together... life is so

brief, and we have so much to give!

**********************************************************************

********************************

 

Here Are Some " Commandments of Email "

 

*Thou shalt include a clear and specific subject line.

 

*Thou shalt edit any quoted text down to the minimum thou needest.

 

*Thou shalt always the soonest get to the point.

 

*Thou shalt value briefness in others as in thyself.

 

*Thou shalt read thine own message thrice before thou sendest it.

 

*Thou shalt ponder how thy recipient might react to thy message.

 

*Thou shalt check thy spelling and thy grammar.

 

*Thou shalt not curse, flame, spam or USE ALL CAPS.

 

*Thou shalt not forward any chain letter.

 

*Thou shalt not use e-mail for any illegal or unethical purpose.

 

*Thou shalt not rely on the privacy of e-mail, especially from work.

 

*When in doubt, save thy message overnight and reread it in the light

of the dawn.

 

And the " Golden Rule " of E-Mail:

 

*That which thou findest hateful to receive, sendest thou not unto

others.

 

And the " Supreme Sin " :

 

*Thou shalt NEVER reply to a lenghty message by sending it back in its

integrality only appending " I agree " or " me too " at its ultimateness.