List Rules and Guidelines

This section presents some simple guidelines for electronic mail etiquette. It does not try to mandate any particular style or rules but try to highlight some important issues which affect the clarity of the email we send. After all, email is about communication, so clarity should be our goal. What follows are a few rules of thumb for etiquette on the net (netiquette) that will help our list.

Always use a meaningful subject line. For example, Keep each line in your message shorter than 72 characters. Longer lines can cause word-wrap and make readability difficult.

When replying to another message, include enough of the original message to provide a context, but include only the minimum you need from the original message - paraphrase or quote selectively. It's VERY annoying to have a 5-page message quoted back at you in its entirety with the words.

At the end of your message, include your name, your email address, or a Keep your signature short - four lines is a useful guideline. Unnecessarily long signatures waste bandwidth and can be annoying.

Don't post long files that may be of interest to only a few readers, (like lists of specimens for sale or full gem show announcements with every detail of a four-day calendar). It's far better to make a concise announcement to the whole list, and then ask people who want more details to email you directly.

When replying to a message, first ask yourself who you're sending it to, the whole list or just the originator of the incoming message. Don't send your message to the whole list if a personal message will do. Personal messages are inappropriate, i.e.

Think before you post. Have you really said what you want to say ? Reread what you wrote. Once a message is sent, it can't be retrieved.

Email is not secure. If you don't want Big Brother to read it, don't post it. It's unwise to send personal or sensitive information, like credit card numbers, by e-mail.

Please be considerate of others. Through inexperience or limited local software, list members may inadvertently violate netiquette. When this happens, a private message to the offender from an experienced friend or from the list owners is more appropriate than a public flame.

A "flame" is an emotionally charged posting, and is often directed at an individual for a breech of netiquette. Messages sent in anger only exacerbate the situation and are usually regretted later. It's best to settle down and think about your response before starting a flame war.

Blatant marketing messages are not allowed on this list, but information is welcome about new products and sources. Keep in mind that the staff will not allow off-topic or hyped-up messages characteristic of direct-mail marketing. These are often the cause of a flame war.

DON'T SHOUT - UNLESS YOU REALLY MEAN IT. The use of all uppercase letters is considered shouting, and therefore rude. However, they are useful to express strong opinions (both positive and negative).

Each list has its own character, just like any real grouping of people. A list functions best when members respect each other and recognize the differences and eccentricities among other list members.

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