[Ansteorra] Netiquette

[Kerry Pratt]

I have debated for a while about sending out this message.  Recent events and posts make it seem like a good time to do
so.  Please understand that this is not directed at any one person but to the list in general.  Over the past few months
I have seen many things that bother me and I usually just move on and ignore them.  Sometimes, though, things begin to
get out of hand and it is better to give some gentle reminders to everyone so that problems can be averted before they
begin.  With that in mind, please follow some basic guidelines so that everyone plays nice:

1.  There are no verbal and non-verbal cues on the list.  Even emoticons don't fully work to tell everyone when you are
joking.  Please, if you are joking, think twice about how your joke will be received by the greater populace of the
Kingdom.  If you wouldn't make the same joke to every member of the kingdom if you were face to face with them, then
please don't make it on this list.

2.  There are children on this list.  While I realize that we will discuss adult subjects as adults on this list, some
behaviors are not acceptable in larger company.  Again, if you wouldn't say it in front of everyone in the Kingdom, then
you probably shouldn't say it on this list, given that a large majority of the Kingdom, including children, plays here.

3.  Trim your posts.  Believe it or not, there are still people on dial up.  They don't want to see the entire message
text that has come before.  Some information is necessary but not the whole conversation.

4.  Hold private conversations offline.  I understand that we all have a delete key and no one is obligated to read
anything but this is only good courtesy.  Holding a private conversation on the list is like sitting in a restaurant
shouting into your cell phone for everyone else to hear.

5.  Spam.  It happens to everyone.  Please don't propagate it by reposting it to the list.  Remember, if someone's
address spammed the list, that person is receiving the list and will see that his/her account (or a spoofed version of
their account) sent spam.  Generally speaking, these do come from spoofed accounts and not the actual email address that
you find in the header.  If you have to let someone know, then please do so via private email.  It's embarrassing enough
to see your name attached to the myriad offers for marital aids, etc... without having 20 people point it out on the
list.

This list is, by no means, all inclusive.  It is just some of the behaviors that I have seen from multiple folks in the
last few months on this, and other, Ansteorran lists.  Please remember that we are all chasing the "Dream" and that we
should be acting as befits Nobles within that dream even when we are stuck in our modern life.  Extend courtesy and
chivalry upon the list, even when others are not extending it to you, and our corner of the world will be a much better
place.

Sincerely,

William Cameron deBlakstan
Webminister, Ansteorra