--- RULES, GUIDELINES AND OPINIONS --- HAVE FUN. (Rule) It is better to have fun than be right (my number one lifetime rule). ATTACHMENTS. (Rule) Do not send attachments through the list server. It can disrupt services. BEHAVIOR CORRECTIONS OR FLAMES. (Rule) Do not send corrections to other members, no matter how well meaning and helpful you have intended your message. This practice usually causes more strife and "flame wars" than the original issue that promted the correction. (There is an old internet axiom that perpetuates the idea that offenders must be flamed by everone, in order to correct their behavior. This is an outdated and counterproductive measure. It is inappropriate to flame on this forum.) It is the responsibility of the moderator (me) to issue these corrections. Address all complaints and grievances DIRECTLY to the moderator (me), not to the offender nor to the list. EMAIL GREETINGS. (Guideline) To send extraneous greetings, announcements, advertisements, "roll calls" and other non-thematic (not having to do with "surname" genealogy, in our case) messages to the list is considered inappropriate by most internet standards. It is argued that for every non-thematic message a contributor wants to send, there is a more appropriate forum for sending it. In principle, such should never be sent through the list server. In practice, it is sometimes useful to do so. As many of you know, I often mention Newsletters and web sites that research our surname. This is advertising. Some of those listed make their livings providing these services. It seems however, that this is in the best interest to our discussion group. As a guide, please consider carefully any message that you post to the group and ask yourself some important questions before forwarding it. * Does this message have direct application to this group? * Can it be sent personally and have the same impact? * Is there a more appropriate forum for it? * What reaction will my message prompt? If you have gone through this process and still feel your message should go to the group, it is probably appropriate to send it. If you are still unsure, send it to me for approval. PEOPLES IS HUMAN TOO. (Opinion) Having said this, I know (and I know that you know) that the rules and guidelines are going to be broken on occasion. Often it is out of inexperience. Sometimes the sender just doesn't know differently (that's another way of saying that the moderator (me) has failed to educate the group appropriately). It is rare that such things are done intentionally. The challenge is to see the offense for what it is...a mistake. Usually it is one that is made with the warmest and most generous intentions behind it. Sometimes: -Subscribers send inappropriate messages to this forum. -Nonsubscribers send inappropriate messages to this forum. -Flames are sent to offenders. -The moderator is left out of the loop. -The moderator is the offender. -Feelings are hurt. Always: -There are things Evil, things Inappropriate and things Fattening. -Each of these events described above are inappropriate. -All of them are correctable. -All of them are forgivable. Please direct any comments (or flames) DIRECTLY (NOT TO THE GROUP) to my address. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS gnbf@tampabay.rr.com PS...Here are the GUIDELINES as provided by Rootsweb.com * Do not send spam e-mail messages to mailing lists. * Do not send attachments (attached files) to the list. This includes: URL shortcuts, v-cards, GEDCOM files, zipped or compressed files and any other type of attachment. * Do not forward virus hoaxes or chain letters to mailing lists. * Do not use HTML or RTF (rich text format) in messages sent to mailing lists. * Do not cross-post messages to multiple mailing lists. * Do not send e-mail messages to mailing lists for which the topic is inappropriate. * Do not flame other members of the mailing list. * Be nice to one another.