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Subject:

MDOsprey rules

From:

Norm Saunders

Reply-To:

Norm Saunders

Date:

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 03:17:44 -0500

I went to a lot of trouble to make sure new subscribers were sent
the rules of the list.  One of these new subscribers told me today
he couldn't be bothered to read the rules.  Instead he decided to
just use "common sense."  I suggested that when this user
resubscribed to MDOsprey he take the time to read the rules.  Here
they are for everyone once again, just in case YOU decided to not
bother reading them.


Here are a few rules you should know about:


                        MDOsprey Rules and Guidelines


A.  Formatting Guidelines:

 1. Send replies either to the list or to the sender but not to
both.
    The default with MDOsprey is that replies go to the sender only.

 2. Make sure the time and date are set correctly on your computer.

 3. Turn off e-mail features (like VCards) that create attachments.

 4. Use ASCII text and keep your line length to 70 characters or
less.

 5. Messages sent to MDOsprey in html-only mode will be rejected.

 6. Append a short signature block with your name, location, and
    e-mail address at the end of each posting.  ***

 7. Quote original text sparingly in your replies.  ***

 8. Avoid using tabs or other non-ASCII characters as they might not
    display properly on other computers.

 9. If you use an "out-of-office" message on your e-mail, please set
    MDOsprey to NOMAIL before you turn on the message.

10. Take your time when composing a message to MDOsprey.  Use proper
    grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

11. DON'T SHOUT AT PEOPLE!.

12. Include full URLs when posting them, as in
<http://www.mdosprey.org/>
    rather than mdosprey.org.

13. Surround URLs with angle-brackets.

14. Don't send e-mail attachments to MDOsprey.



B.  Content Guidelines:

 1. Stick to the list subject matter--no religious, political, or
other
    discussions outside the charter of MDOsprey.  ***

 2. Consult the list archives before posting a question. This is
also a
    good way to become familiar with a list's acceptable topics.
***

 3. Make an effort to create meaningful subject lines.  If you
respond to
    a previous post and change the subject in your posting, change
the
    subject line to reflect that.

 4. If you wish to post a commercial message or announcement of
hearings,
    exhibits, or other functions, check first with the list owners
for
    permission.  Bird club field trip announcements are not subject
to
    this restriction.

 5. Never send UNSUBSCRIBE or other LISTSERV commands to the list
(see
    C.3, below).

 6. Send messages with little or no substance ("Congratulations",
"Attagirl!",
    "Nice posting", "Thanks", e.g.) to the individual and not to the
list.  ***

 7. If you use information not your own in your posting, give proper
credit.

 8. Do not forward copyrighted material to the list unless you have
per-
    mission to do so.

 9. If you must flame, do it in private.

10. ALL of the states surrounding Maryland have birding discussion
lists.
    We're glad you had a great weekend in Delaware but please post
it to
    the DE-BIRDS list and not MDOsprey.  For addresses of other
state-
    specific birding lists see:
    <http://americanbirding.org/abalinks/linkspage5b.htm>.  ***

11. If a rare bird shows up in a neighboring state, post the news
ONCE
    to MDOsprey, along with information on which list to visit for
further
    details.  ***

12. Don't cross-post--take the time to split your large,
all-inclusive
    message into smaller messages that are relevant to each list
posted to.
    ***

13. Want information on that newest birding guide to Gandwanaland?
Consider
    searching for it on the American Birding Association site or at
the
    Buteo Books site.  If you must ask for input, please ask that
responses
    be sent to you off the list.  ***

14. If your posting doesn't immediately show up on the list, be
patient.
    Check the MDOsprey archives to see if it did indeed make it to
the list.
    If not, wait at least 6 hours before re-posting--delays are
sometimes
    unavoidable.  ***

15. Please, please, please keep it civil.


C.  Getting Help:

 1. You received two e-mails when you subscribed to MDOsprey.  The
first
    contained technical information about LISTSERV commands.  Read
this and
    save it.  The second is a MDOsprey-oriented introduction and
welcoming
    message.  Read this and save it.

2. A LISTSERV Users Guide is at:
   <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8e/user/user.pdf>.

3. Send your requests for list assistance to
   
   Try to be as explicit about the problem you are experiencing as
possible or
   as detailed as possible about what you need help with.  The more
you
   tell us, the easier it will be to fix problems or clear up
confusions.



Do you think we've gone overboard with our rules?  Believe it or
not, we began
MDOsprey with only a short set of guidelines.  Since then, all of
these items
have been at issue at one time or another, some worse than others.
Those marked 
with '***' are perennial problem areas.  If you would like to
discuss one or more of these guidelines, please send us your
comments off the list.

Many new subscribers see MDOsprey as a public utility, but you have
to keep in
mind that it really isn't that, nor is it a democracy.  Respect the
list, the
list subscribers, and the list owners.  Live by the rules, and we'll
have one
of the best birding lists in the country to show for it!


================================
Norm Saunders
Colesville & West Ocean City, MD