ADMIN: List Responsibilities--Read This Message!

["Eric J. Ray" <ejray -at- RAYCOMM -dot- COM>]

--New on 31 July 1998--

In the ongoing effort to make this list as useful
as possible, I've recast the Posting Rules (which
do still exist) in terms of responsibilities in a
number of areas--I think this offers a more
constructive way of looking at the list and can,
I think, help make things run a little more
smoothly. Additionally, this reflects my
philosophical view of how the list _should_ run--based
on responsibilities, not explicit rules.

With that...

TECHWR-L LISTOWNER RESPONSIBILITIES

* Make sure that the list continues to run and
        be a valuable information resource. This
        includes stopping inappropriate discussions
        and silencing posters who cannot or will not
        respect other list members' needs and time.
* Help members and potential readers learn about
        and use the list.
* Help members with administrative problems, like
        changed email addresses or similar issues.
* Handle off-topic messages, spam, and inappropriate
        or unprofessional messages, through either
        private or public means, as needed.


TECHWR-L MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

To Other List Members:

* Be nice. Attack ideas, not personalities, and
        stay nice in off-line commentary as well.
* Be concise and clear in your postings, and
        edit unnecessary content before sending.
* Stay focused on the topic. Other people didn't
        subscribe to this list for anything other
        than professional discussions about
        technical communication, and it's your
        responsibility to do everything in your
        power to remain focused on that topic.
* Post only appropriate messages. If it's not
        clearly about technical communication, it's
        not appropriate for this list, regardless
        of how critical or vital it may seem to
        you. Make the connection explicit if necessary.
* Respect other people's time. If the correct
        usage/word/information is in a standard
        reference book that you have, look it up
        rather than asking 4000 other people to
        look it up for you. If you've already done
        your homework, then say so explicitly.
* Post only accurate information. If you're posting
        verifiable technical information, tips, or
        instructions, take the time to ensure that
        they're accurate. If you don't have the time to
        ensure that your message is completely accurate
        using authoritative sources, don't post it.
* Use the archives and don't post questions
        that have been beaten to death recently.
        If it's been posted, it's in the archives,
        so don't ask others to do the archive
        research for you.
* Remember that few absolutes exist--for every
        _rule_ of technical communication that you
        have always followed, someone else always
        follows a contradictory rule. What you post is
        usually an opinion, and will be better
        received when presented as one.


To Yourself:

* Remember that your postings go to potential
        employers, co-workers, and friends. Additionally,
        they're archived forever in several places.
* Post valuable messages. I know of well over 100
        list members who have gotten jobs as a direct
        or indirect result of their techwr-l postings,
        and they're all people who send substantive,
        well-thought-out, constructive contributions.
        (Yes, these are the people who post the messages
        that you print out and file.)
* Post good questions. Although there is truth in the
        old saw about "the only dumb question is the one
        unasked", posting the same question that was
        addressed at length in each of the last 4 weeks
        (and thus answered at length in the archives),
        is a dumb question.
* Learn to use your email program well, including
        taking advantage of mail filtering, searching,
        sorting, and filing features. Send only plain
        text messages and no attachments to the list.
* Learn to use archives and online resources
        effectively, both for technical communication
        information and for other information.


To Listowner:

* Keep the list instructions and use them.
* Keep the list rules and follow them.
* Contact the listowner if you have problems,
        questions, or issues.
* Send list messages to the list, send administrative
        messages, questions, commentary, or complaints
        to the listowner.






*********************************************************
* Eric J. Ray, ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com, http://www.raycomm.com/
* TECHWR-L Listowner, co-author _Mastering HTML 4.0_
*   _HTML 4 for Dummies Quick Reference_, and others.
* RayComm, Inc., currently accepting contract inquiries.