WACMA List Guidelines

[Guest guest]

Good morning all,

I thought it appropriate to once again post the " netiquette " guidelines as

we continue to grow by leaps and bounds. I would urge all members

(oldtimers & new alike) to review the list.

I know everybody probably thinks posting these guidelines is redundant, but

when they are followed the group is much more effective in exchanging

information.........and that's what it's all about :-)

Thanks,

Hillbilly

WACMA Specific List Guidelines

 

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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*

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Don't reply publicly to a message if your only contribution is to say

" me too " or " I agree " . Those notes can be important sometimes (ie -

checking for common symptoms not already listed within the wacma surveys).

So if you feel it could be beneficial to other members, elaborate on your

symptom, and how you deal with it, etc.

7. 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@...

*Kathleen Grigg: grigg@...

* = list managers

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

with people privately if you feel you need to.

9.Please don't send any sad stories about people who get a nickel for every

time a post is forwarded (or any other similar nonsense). If you believe

these things, that's fine, but most people realise that they're bogus and

don't want to have to read them. The general rule in cyberspace is: if it

says " send this to as many people as you can " , that means trash it without

bothering anyone else with it.

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. And *please* don't apologise through the

list :-) 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 one of us privately.

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.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE

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