I've compiled a list of rules that I think will help anyone be a good member of this or any other mailing list.
1. Never, EVER, ask a question w/o doing extensive study on the issue first. We're a superior group here, and our time should never be wasted by helping the uninitiated. After all, we're not interested in fostering growth by creating a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere. Sure, somebody helped us out when we were new and didn't even know how to frame the question, but that is because we are special -- you are not. At best, all you'll get is a two-word "man topic" response to your idiot question. Here's a rule of thumb: don't ask a question unless you already know the answer. 2. Anyone can at any time make an arbitrary rule declaration. Simply by declaring that a particular habit, custom or trait is rude, that thing is instantly established as such and any person who does it is a jerk. You are obligated to know and follow any rule anyone declares -- even, and especially, those established before you joined the list (violating arbitrary rules established long before you joined the list is an especially heinous offense). 3. You are expected to psychicly know who is participating on this and all other mailing lists. You are allowed to listen to multiple lists, but you may not post the same topic or question to multiple lists if you think it might annoy anybody else monitoring the same list. Although we are superior, we have no ability to ignore posts -- Nazi overlords physically force us to read everything that enters our mailbox, so when you cross-post, you steal from us precious time. 4. Your messages must be formatted to 1980 technology standards. You may not include any html or rtf attachments or any other kind of document, even if the document's file format is readable on the vast majority of operating systems out there. And trim your message lines -- the recipient shouldn't be required to have bleeding-edge text-wrap technology just to read your posts. Above all, remember -- if another list member is offended, you are responsible. How we react is not something we are able to control or choose -- you _FORCE_ us to react; we're only victims here. Dave ____________________ BYU Unix Users Group http://uug.byu.edu/ ___________________________________________________________________ List Info: http://uug.byu.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uug-list
