important wacma guidelines

[Guest guest]

The following is meant to help newcomers understand how we at wacma like to

operate this support group, and also for some of the old regulars who may

have forgotten lately. I would appreciate it if the long-timers didn't skip

over it just because you've heard it before. You may be one of the

offenders without realising it:

* When posting non-chiari specific material, say so in your subject header

with the initials NCC (for No Chiari Content). Suitable NCC messages can

include jokes (even bad puns like some of Bernie's), and general

conversation - but *only* IF these things are labeled as NCC and an

appropriate subject title to signify the content - changing the subect

field is very commonly missed by many.

It's very easy to hit " respond " without remembering to do that, resulting

in frustration for lots of folks. I think the fact that the lurkers make up

the large majority of our members is often forgotten. Those of us who post

regularly need to remember that we are the minority, and we can get carried

away sometimes, and ignore the needs of all the rest.

* Even if you use NCC, do *not* submit anything that is of interest to only

one or two people. Those of us who feel we need to read all messages don't

want to have to read it. Please send private mail *privately*

* When posting appropriate material, remove *all* unnecessary quotations

first, as well as everything else that isn't required. Do not resubmit the

entire post that you're responding to. many of our members have slower

computers and/or email downloads, and this can actually double the time it

takes. It also slows down the speed for everyone who reads the messages on

the web only. Quote *only* what is needed to allow the reader to understand

what you're talking about.

* Don't - under any circumstances - ever post attachments with your

submissions. This causes major problems for some computers and email

programs, which results in people who need help leaving the group before

they get that help. Whenever this happens, wacma has failed in our

obligations.

* Don't reply to a message if your only contribution is to say " me too " .

Those notes can be important sometimes (ie - checking for common symptoms

not already listed within the wacma surveys). So if feel it could be

beneficial to other members, elaborate on your symptom, and how you deal

with it, etc.

* Don't discuss list policy on the list. All complaints, suggestions,

opinions, etc regarding policy must be sent privately to at least one, or

all, of the wacma staff:

Darlene Long: darlong@...

Bernie Meyer: internautbhm@...

Chip Vierow: chip@...

ronny Watt: ronny@...

Chadbourne: scott@...

* Obviously, never send anything inflammatory directed at anyone. Fight

with people privately if you feel you need to.

We don't expect everyone to remember all this every single time they post.

We all forget occasionally, so don't feel you need to apologise if you

realise that you've done that. The point is to *try* to remember, and

hopefully it'll become nearly-automatic after awhile.

If you don't understand any of the guidelines, or can't figure out how to

do something or other, please feel free to ask me privately

(ronny@...). If I can't help you, I can find someone who can.

Thanks for taking this seriously guys. We sometimes have long stretches

without any significant problems, and when that happens, more people find

the help they are seeking. And that's the whole purpose.

ronny

World ACM Association http://www.pressenter.com/~wacma

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