Netiquette and rules for the JAG list(s) ========================================= These are the basic rules for the JAG (general) list but I guess the other lists use it, too. The list was originally posted by Leigh Gaffney . I've reformatted and -edited that one and added some more points (7-11). Please take a minute to read through and think about before posting. Thank you! Ok, here we go ... 1. "Me too", "I agree" and other one-liner posts Simple rule - don't do them. Not only are they annoying, but rude and a waste of time sending as well as a waste of time reading. Please don't do them. This includes most one liner posts "Me Too" "I agree" "okay" "what?" "Who?" "Why?" - you get the picture. Use judgement. 2. Private posts vs. Public posts If it's only addressing one person - send it to just that person. The entire list really doesn't need to hear your one on one conversation - it's a waste of space in their mailboxes. Again, use judgement. One-line requests (like if someone offers a fanfic s/he has written) should go directly to that person - not to the list. 3. Quoting Quote what you're going to use in your reply. There's no need to quote EVERYTHING unless you're going to talk about EVERYTHING. Don't forget - there are those on the digest who get the messages crumpled into one email and if they have to get the same quoted material over and over - well that's a lot of space in their box - and it's not just digest members either. Same goes for those not on the digest too! 4. Asking and answering questions Read through your mail first - if someone else has already answered a question - there's really no point in your answering with the same material except to take up space in another person's email box. When asking a question - take a look and see if it's been asked already that day. General good idea rule is to read your mail first, then post. 5. Forwarding mail Chain letters, spam mail - just don't bother sending it. Other people's email - make sure you have their permission to post it to the jag list - or if you're posting a story to a website or someone's email to another list or website - have their permission first Funny bits - there's a lot of funny stuff on the web - chances that it's been heard before tho is pretty great - Use judgement with this. 6. Attachments Just don't do it. period - it clogs mailboxes and the digest members get a mess. 7. No fanfic to the main list Don't post fanfic to the main list. Instead post them to the fanfic list which has been set up for that purpose. Two reasons: first, there are people from the JAG production team on the list and story ideas could put them into an awkward position. And second, see no. 6 above. However, feel free to announce your fanfic on the list. 8. Spoilers * What is a spoiler? A so-called Spoiler is basically any information which can spoil others the fun (or thrill) of watching JAG. Classic spoilers are e.g. previews of upcoming episodes. The critical part here is 'upcoming': people on the east coast get to see episodes earlier than those on the west coast; some are taping episode to watch it at a later point. * What is and how to use spoiler space? + So use a spoiler space for at least until a week after the episode aired (and of course always *before* it airs). Spoiler space is basically some (blank) lines (about 20-30) so the first page is covered and no one accidentally gets spoilt. + Don't use spoilers in the subject line! ;-) + When replying to a 'spoiler' posting also include the spoiler space. + Additionally, the word 'Spoilers' in the subject line is always helpful. * Indicate what you are spoiling before the spoiler space (e.g. in Subject line) *without* giving away the spoiler (I know, a little bit delicate) - so readers know if they want to read it or not. 9. Don't send HTML coded messages Some e-mail programs (e.g. Netscape) provide a possibility to send the mail HTML-coded (with HTML tags). Don't use this feature on the list, not all programs can display them correctly, resulting in garbage on the screen. Also, these messages usually include both plain-text *and* HTML-text and so unnecessarily increase the volume. 10. Keep the volume of off-topic postings low Although it may be interesting now and then, please use off-topic postings with judgement (or avoid them at all if possible). Especially with the high volume on the main list people can't even read through the JAG related messages, let alone through the off-topic then. In case you want to send one anyway please include a descriptive tag, like a preceeding "OT:" 11. Subject line and message body matching If you are replying to a message and you change the topic please also change the *subject line*. Anyways it's only a few common sense items that once you know what they are you realize and understand the common nature of them. Sometimes people just aren't aware of these items but once you are you can be aware of them and help keep the postings on topic but also relevant and curteous. Some folks pay for the amount of time they are online, those overseas especially pay by the minute for how long they are connected, some pay for the amount of email they download by the meg or byte count. Please be aware of these few things before posting. Take a few minutes to think about them and ask a few questions: "Should this goto the list? Or just one or two people?" "I'm posting this to the fanfic list - should it goto the main one instead?" (or visa versa) "Would so-and-so mind if I posted their email?" "I wonder if they've heard this joke before?" just a few ideas, please - let's try and think of them, I think it'll only improve the quality of the posts on the list as well as the size of mail it generates. Thanks :)