List netiquette

**"DGreen" d*@kingston.net**

I have been asked to repost a very old note on list netiquette. Without
further ado...

We've already lost a few good writers from this list because some folks are
ignoring basic list etiquette.  

** If you want to unsubscribe or change your options - the instructions are
in every post. Simply read the underlined urls and send the message that you
want to use.  If you want to unsubscribe - then by all means do so (we'll
miss your expertise) but do so by - as my Dad says - "if all else fails,
read the instructions."

** The poster's address is on the header that gets into your letter.  At the
top it should say TO:gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org and under that "on
behalf of" XXXXX@ XXXXX.com   The xxxx's mark the spot - that's the address
of the person sending the note.  You can find anyone's email address in the
archives by searching in this way.

** If you want to thank the person who answered - reply directly to that
person using the xxxxx address.  We'll all assume you are grateful - you
don't have to thank each of us in a post to the group.  If you want to make
a personal statement of some kind - use the xxxx address - not the list.

** If you want to ask a question to the list - do this. That's why we're all
here - to ask, answer and find out what's happening with this great group of
people.

** Don't fill our mailboxes with "me-too" statements.  We've had a lot of
those. George says "there's a problem here" and everybody else says "me
too."  Somebody says "too many mails" and a host of "me-toos echo from the
electronic halls.   If we eliminated all the "me-too's" we would not have
problems.

** There are two parts to any list. Content and Noise.    Ask yourself
before you post - "Is this post going to help somebody?"  If the post is
helpful to somebody it is content. Just like your magazine and newspaper
articles.  Newspapers and magazines don't print too many "me-too
statements." :-)   If the post is not going to help somebody, it is noise.
Off-topic rants are "noise". 

** If you are simply venting or expressing your reaction to a post without
adding something of value (particularly to rants) - a "me-too" then it
doesn't help anybody but you and on lists we call this "noise".

** This might sound basic but when somebody posts and says, "contact me
off-list", it really means "off-list".  It does not mean hit the reply
button and send your comment to the list.

** I've been around the Net on lists for some time and I write about such
things.  Understand that the usefullness of any list is the ratio of helpful
content to noise.  The more content = the better the list. The more noise -
the fewer people will stay around.  In other professional lists I'm on - if
the noise level rises, the pro's start to leave.  They don't have the time
to listen to noise but they do make the time to listen to content.

** ** Your choice is to add content or add noise. ** **

** Having said all that. We ALL screw up every now and then. If you do
accidentally send a picture to the list (pics are not allowed) then simply
apologize and get on with your life.  If you accidentally hit <return> and
make a private note public to the list, simply apologize and know that we've
all done it. (even though you feel pretty stupid at the time) :-)

**Apologies are acceptable noise.**  Apologies are the grease of social
interaction both on the net and off the net. Use them when you mess up.

<IMPORTANT!!>

***What is not acceptable on professional lists is profanity or flames.***  

Profanity of any kind will not be tolerated.  Flames and rants are equally
offensive.  When somebody makes a mistake, (note the "when" - not an "if")
then simply take a deep breath.  Do not flame, do not add profanity and do
not respond when somebody else does.  What you don't see is the moderator
working behind the scenes to correct the problem.  Contact the moderator
offlist with any problems you have about the list or its contents- not the
list in general.

** You can ignore this advice if you want. That's your choice and the
anarchistic delight of the Net.  But if you do - understand that people who
write for a living don't need their mailbox filled with noise.  If those
folks leave - we're all the poorer for it.

Doug

p.s. please start by NOT responding to this note

Doug Green SGF Communications: e-publishing content
Home: http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com
Blog: http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/gardens-gardening-news.html

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