The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) has revised its mailing
list guidelines for the TTCS discussion list.

If you have any questions or comments, you can email the list moderator
at: ttcs@...

Dev Teelucksingh
ttcs@...
Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society at http://www.ttcsweb.org/
"networking local computer users!"

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Contents
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/ Introduction
/ Mailing List Rules and Regulations
/ Network Etiquette (Netiquette)
/ General Advice
/ About the moderators
/ Disciplinary Action
/ Contact the moderator
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Welcome to the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS)
Discussion Mailing List.

Please read the following message as it contains important information
regarding the subscription,unsubscription and the expectations of the
TTCS Discussion Mailing List.

Introduction
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The TTCS discussion mailing list exists to further the
goals of the TTCS:

- to be an informal forum where technology and related social issues
can be discussed.
- to share information about computers and related technologies.
- to keep current with the events in the local IT industry.
- to bring together people from diverse backgrounds in order to
foster a community where home users, business people, the
general public and all classes of IT workers can share experiences
and generally improve the quality of the experience they have while
using modern technology.

To discuss TTCS activities as well as both local and international
computer/technology related topics/issues, any member of the
TTCS discussion mailing list can send an email to the list.
This message is sent immediately to all members of the list.


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Mailing List Rules and Regulations
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By participating in the ttcs discussion mailing list, you are agreeing
to follow the terms set forth in these guidelines. Failure to follow
these terms may result in: temporary suspension from the mailing list or
termination of list membership.

* You acknowledge the authority of the moderators and agree to abide
by all descisions and accept all disciplinary action taken
by the moderators.

* You are responsible/liable for the content you post to the list.
This is a public forum thus you can be held legally liable
for whatever you post to the list.

* You should not post any content (defined as: text, information,
data, binary files, links, software or images) deemed in-appropriate
(as determined by the moderator) to the TTCS discussion list.
Examples of inappropriate content :
- content not related to computing (e.g politics,
pornographic URLs, spam, dating services)
- jokes (computing related ones may be allowed)
- profanity
- racist/sexist or other such prejudicial remarks.
- information on activities likely to be used to violate
national and international law (e.g copyright infringement,
website defacement, stolen passwords, serial numbers, cracks, warez)

Members who post such content may be suspended or removed from the list.

* If you object to a post sent by a member and you want to send an
opinion/taunt/"flame" about that member: DON'T DO IT!.
There should be NO personal affronts on the list. NONE.
Once said on the list, it can never be taken back.
Keep person to person fights off the list.
Reminder: If you are angry at someone on the list, it is best to
NOT post a spiteful message, that would be considered "flaming" and it
is grounds for suspension or termination of membership.

* If you have a complaint about a member, email the list owner directly
at ttcs@.... Do not post it to the public list. Posting it
directly to the list could be misinterpreted as a personal affront and
result in a flame war.

* As a member of this list, you agree not to post
messages/advertisements whose sole the purpose is selling
or promoting goods/services, websites/products to
the mailing list.

* Spammers (e.g a member whose first message to
the list is a advertisement) will be removed IMMEDIATELY.

* A regular contributor to the list may post news about
any new computing related business or website they
are involved in (provided such business/website is
not involved in the creation/promotion of inappropriate content),
however repeating such posts for advertisement purposes
will be considered inappropriate behaviour.
Offenders will be subject to immediate termination of list membership.

* Members using auto e-mail responders will be temporarily suspended
for the period of time their responder is active.

* These rules are subject to change without further notice.


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Network Etiquette (Netiquette)
------------------------------

- If you are sending a reply to a message or a posting, be sure you
summarize the original at the top of the message, or include
just enough text of the original to give a context.
This will make sure readers understand when they start
to read your response.

- behave on-line as you would in person. Watch what you type
and how you word potentially volatile statements.
Assume that what you say will be taken in the worst
possible way, and that if someone is upset enough by it,
it will come back to haunt you.

For more information to help you and the members of the list, visit:

- Introduction to Network Etiquette from Wabash College
http://www.wabash.edu/technology/wabnet/netiquette.cfm

- Netiquette Guidelines
http://www.dtcc.edu/cs/rfc1855.html


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General Advice
--------------

- At all times: THINK BEFORE YOU POST.

- Ensure that you have the correct time and timezone set on
your computer otherwise email replies to your posts may appear
to members before your post is read, leading to confusion.

- Avoid letting yourself be dragged into a flame war.
*All* participants in such activity will face disciplinary action.

- If you need to "ole talk" or need to "discuss" controversial
or off topic material, use the Saltprune mailing list:

To join the saltprune list:
send email to: saltprune-request@...
with the word JOIN in the message body.

To leave the saltprune list:
send email to saltprune-request@...
with the word LEAVE in the message body.

Note: The saltprune list is "owned"/operated by an
independent third party, not the Trinidad and Tobago
Computer Society (TTCS).

- Avoid typing in CAPITALS: Text such as this is the
equivalent of SHOUTING and is considered rude.

- Use only plain text in your messages.

- Attachments are disabled by default.
This means that only plain text can be used in emails to the list.

- "cut and paste" the appropriate sections when responding
to a lengthy email. Do not repost the entire message.

- If you change the topic under discussion in a
particular "thread", change the subject line of future messages!

- Do not use an auto-email responder.

- Members *do not* have to respond to every single email
that is sent to the list.

- The moderators cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness,
or usefulness of any content (i.e.opinions, advice, statements,
services, offers, data, or other information) expressed or
made available by members of this list.

- Members should be aware that any content obtained through
the use of this list is done at their own discretion and risk.
They are solely responsible for any damage to their computer(s),
loss of data or any other sort of loss that results from the
download/use of such content.

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About the moderators
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* The moderators' descision, in all matters, is final.
* The moderators
- are the sole authority to determine the need for/the use of,
disciplinary action.
- can terminate membership at their sole discretion.
- reserve the right to take disciplinary action without prior warning.
- reserve the right to modify these rules without further notice
to the list.
- reserve the right to shut down the list at any time
without prior warning.


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Disciplinary Action
-------------------

As stated in the section "About the moderators", moderators are the sole
authority to determine the need for/the use of, disciplinary action.

There are 2 types of disciplinary action:

Suspension:

Violation of list rules or inappropriate behaviour
(as determined by the moderators) will result in:

1) A notice of suspension being emailed to *all* offenders offlist.
2) *All* offenders being suspended from the list for
a *minimum* of 20 days.
During the suspension, offenders will be able to receive
messages from the list but will not be able to post messages.

3) A public notice will be sent to the list advising members of
the name/email aliases of the offenders and the fact that they
have been suspended for a *minimum* of 20 days.

Removal/termination of membership:

List members who persist in violating list rules or continue
inappropriate behaviour after being warned and/or suspended will be
permanently banned from this list and all other lists operated by TTCS.

1) A notice of termination of membership will be emailed to *all*
offenders offlist.

2) *All* offenders will be removed from the list and all
other lists operated by TTCS.

3) A public notice will be sent to the list advising members
of the name/email aliases of the offenders and the fact that they
have been permanently banned from this list and all other lists
operated by TTCS.

* The moderators' descisions about disciplinary action is final.

* The moderators reserve the right to take disciplinary action
without prior warning if necessary to protect the list from
flame wars, inappropriate behaviour and other negative activity.

* The moderators reserve the right to modify the types of
disciplinary action at any time without prior notice.

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Contact the moderator
---------------------

If you have any questions or comments, you can email
the list moderator at: ttcs@...


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While the following link was about diversity training, the guidelines
can also be applied to discussion mailing lists as well :

Guidelines for focusing on learning
http://www.kottke.org/03/10/learning-guidelines