CYBERBOARDML MAILING LIST FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Version 1.09 Last Updated: 02 May 2005
This FAQ will be circulated on occasion on the mailing list. This is a "living" document, meaning its contents are open to discussion by the list members, and sections will be added, dropped, and changed as need be. Send your comments to the FAQ keepers: Eric Miller and/or Chris Fawcett. Topics covered in this FAQ: * Posting messages * Things that are on-topic and off-topic * Net Etiquette for writing messages * Flame Wars * Subscribing to and unsubscribing from the list * Bouncing e-mails * Digest mode * List archives * File archive standards Q: How to I post messages to the list? A: Send e-mail to: [email protected] or reply to a message changing the subject line as necessary. You can also directly post messages by going to the group's posting page (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CyberboardML/post). Q: What is considered on-topic and off-topic? A: This is the premier mailing list that covers the use of Dale Larson's excellent CyberBoard play-by-eMail (PBEM) gamers' assist software (http://cyberboard.brainiac.com/index.html). Discussion covers the use of the software program, tips on creating gamebox and scenario files, and general playing tips. Any other subject matter should be directed to the appropriate forum, including specific game in progress status reports. You might find other CyberBoard-related Yahoo Groups by searching at http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=cyberboard&submit=Search. The list does not condone, nor shall it be used for the wrongful exchange of copyrighted material. This includes requesting copies of rules and/or other components for games you do not own as well as gameboxes for games for which you do not own a physical copy. Q: What are the acceptable standards of etiquette on this mailing list? A: The CyberBoard Mailing List is for the general enjoyment of the subject by the members, not to prove you know more about the subject. The following are general (and non-exclusive) guidelines for the use and enjoyment of the list. 1. Don't quote an entire message in your reply. Quote only short, concise passages that carry the main thought that is pertinent to your reply. Cut out the rest, and mark the cut with <<SNIPPED>> or something similar. Remember that you are only keeping a thread alive, not trying to see how long the message can get. By quoting the entire message, you are clogging the net (and everyone's mailbox) with unnecessary verbiage. Every time you include the entire body of text of the message to which you're replying, hundreds of other list members think unpleasant thoughts about your family heritage. Not all Internet users get free phone time like North Americans do. 2. Mark the quoted passages with some sort of special character at the beginning of every quoted line or separate your reply from the original message clearly. If you don't clearly mark which sections are whose, it becomes impossible for readers to tell what you are trying to say and what was said before. 3. It is considered bad form to criticize other posters for spelling and grammar and such activity WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. We are an international community and English is not the only language on the planet. This is, however, not an excuse to be inconsiderate and intentionally sloppy. 4. The mailing list messages are set up to not send a reply to the original sender. ALL replies go back to the Mailing List. If you want a direct reply, include your name and e-mail address in your messages. 5. When using abbreviations and acronyms, even ones you think are common and well known, spell them out at least once in your message for the benefit of newcomers to the conversation. There's nothing worse than being a FNG and reading about the LRRP NCO that went TDY to the PI with a MSG about a certain AO and having to jump out in a hot LZ and was SOL, IYKWIM. 6. When the subject drifts, change the subject line to reflect the current topic. This is to prevent subject lines that run for weeks and end up having no bearing on the original message. 7. If you get the digest form of CyberBoardML and you're replying to a message, don't forget to update the subject line and delete all quoted material that is not pertinent to your reply. Nothing is worse than to see the entire digest quoted for a three word reply to a message buried half way through the digest. 8. Remember that this is an international mailing list, and not all of the members are from the same country as you. Nor are they all the same age group, religion, or political affiliation. Be civil or be gone. 9. If you're going to be gone from home or office and you have a outo-reply feture on your e-mail client that you just have to activate, fine, but first come here and change your delivery options to "No Email" for the period you'll be away. Failure to do so will mean that you'll be kicked off the list. Q: How are flame wars handled? A: This is one list that has, thankfully thus far avoided flame wars. The flame war members will be sent an e-mail from the moderator to stop the flames. If it continues, they will be kicked off (and probably banned from) the list. Send your flames via private mail. In short, FLAME WARS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Q: How do you handle SPAM? A: SPAM will NOT be tolerated. Those individuals considered to be spamming this ML will be unsubscribed and banned, reported to Yahoo! as in violation of Yahoo! rules and will also be reported to their ISP if able. Again, SPAM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. SPAM also includes wholesale group replies to a SPAM message. Just let the moderators deal with it, and DON'T REPLY to SPAM. Q: How do I attach a gamebox or file to my e-mail? A: Attachments are not allowed on the CyberBoard ML. But, an alternative is available. The files section of the Group is open to all subscribed members. Simply upload your file there and notify the list of its availability. However... ...THIS IS IMPORTANT!! This group is not the forum for general distribution of gamebox files, and the Files location is intended solely for sharing gamebox files of works in progress, meant for critical peer review or collaboration amongst designers. Files may remain there only for 30 days, after which they will be deleted (policy in effect 1 August 2001). Q: How do I invite someone else to subscribe to the list? A: To subscribe to CyberBoardML go to http://groups.yahoo.com, search for CyberBoardML then join the group. You will have to register with Yahoo Groups to use this service. Q: How do I unsubscribe? A: To unsubscribe from CyberBoardML go to http://groups.yahoo.com, click on My Groups on the top left then click unsubscribe off the drop down menu to the right of CyberBoardML. You can also send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be removed from the mailing list. Q: What happens if my emails bounce? A: After several tries of reactivation you are removed from the Group. Ensure your email address is correct and up-to-date or you will lose access to the CyberBoardML Group. Q: Does the list have a digest format, so I can get all the messages in one big daily file instead of a bunch of individual messages? A: Yes. That is an option you can select with subscribing. You may also change over to the digest by going to http://goups.yahoo.com, click on User Center and changing your option on the CyberBoardML mailing list. Q: Are there any archives of the mailing list? A: Since its inception (on OneList), CyberBoardML has been archived. Go to the CyberBoardML Mailing List (see above) and you may access the entire message archive. Q: Where do I find more about CyberBoard? A: There are quite a few excellent CyberBoard-related web sites. The best place to start is the CyberBoard Home Page at http://www.norsesoft.com/cyberboard.html. This site contains the program itself, some tips and utilities, and includes a list of related sites from which you can find the rest of the web's CyberBoard resources. A. The best place to start your search for that special gamebox would be Skip Franklin's CyberBoard Gamebox Availability Page at http://www.geocities.com/darksan/cbdesign.htm. Skip's list has most, if not all, of the gameboxes available listed on his site. Q: How do I do <insert query here> with Cyberboard? A: This is the best place to learn about CyberBoard. No question is ever considered "stupid." And we do not condone a condenscending attitude from any of our subscribers. This said, there are a few suggested places to search before posting a question: www.consimworld.com -- if you are not a member of this BBS style Virtual Wargame convention, you should be. Cyberboard has a topic/board, though since inception of the ML traffic has been light. Still, the archived messages avaialbe on the topic are a great wealth of already answered questions. Q: Where can I post Gameboxes I've created? Where can I find Gameboxes for my favorite game? A: It is strongly suggested that you visit one of the web sites mentioned above and contact the webmaster of that site. Or, alternatively, announce on the mailing list that you have a box that is looking for a host home. Due to what many interpret as gray areas in the copyright laws of the United States, we cannot maintain Gameboxes of commercially available games on the Yahoo! Groups website. Activity of this sort can only invite a nasty "cease and desist" letter and exposes the group to possible legal action, not the least of which could be barring our use of Yahoo. Anyone with a gamebox who wishes to post it to the web is strongly encouraged to make sure he obtains a letter of fair use from any prospective end-user. Walt O'Hara and Chris Fawcett and most of the hosts of Cyberboard Gameboxes have undertaken the daunting task of self-monitoring ourselves as a group to ensure we do not violate the fair use interpretation of the copyright laws. We, as list moderators strongly encourage all list members to institute a similar practice, or, contact Chris or any other site that follows such policies to host their game boxes. One final word...have fun! Thanks, Eric Miller Chris Fawcett List Moderators-General -----END OF FAQ-----
