Well, now that the list is automated, and discussion is on the rise, there is a need to put a set of guidelines in place. This was never a problem before when the list was "hand forwarded," because the messages were only forwarded once a day. This, of course, slowed down discussion, and limited the number of messages each day. Well, now with the opportunity to have 30+ messages per day, it is even more important that we keep the messages focused on the task at hand, the Goo Goo Dolls. Please read on: (Whether or not you read this, you will be responsible for its contents if you wish to remain on the list.)
Greetings! As a listowner for the Goo Goo Dolls Mail List -- I've realized that a need for a set of guidelines would be beneficial to keep the list focused. These policies are to be followed if you wish to remain the list. They are mostly geared towards preventing unnecessary wear and tear on the machines or to prevent unnecessary and pointless flamewars. Willful violation of any of these policies will result in my asking you to apologize to the list within a certain set time; failure to do so will result in your banishment from the list. The URL for this particular page will be available at all times via the list message-footer.
Okay, this has always been the big bugaboo. What defines what makes a relevant list post?
Really, folks, I tend to take the simple approach on this. Why did you subscribe to the list? Why, to talk about the band in question. That's why we're all on the list. And as listmembers, we presume that the discussion we're going to find on any particular list will relate to that subject matter at hand. We all know this and should respect this.
What exactly can define relevance to any particular band? Well, here's where things can get sticky, as I freely admit. Consider what earlier on the list with the MTV Music Awards. Everyone was talking about how excited they were about the Goo Goo Dolls being nominated for the City of Angels movie. Then, somehow, the discussion drifts off of the topic and we're talking about R & B / Backstreet Boys. Now, people are disagreeing and tempers are flaring up. This just drives people away from the list. You can talk about the R & B on other newsgroups and forums. Therefore, such discussion should really go there, and not clog up the Goo list!
Another addition to the relevance category would be one line posts. Please do not post messages that say, "Welcome." or "Glad to have you aboard" when some one posts that they are new to the list. This isn't Wal-mart, so we don't have a greeter at the door. The problem with this is that we have to much private mail floating around on the list. If you want to welcome someone to the list, send it privately to them...200 other people don't care to see it.
Those are some particular examples. The lists are unmoderated, and I will not approve every message sent; that would be a bother. But you should always ask yourself, "Hey, is what I'm about to say going to be of interest to the list as a whole?" Obviously, you can't read everyone's mind collectively on this -- I often suggest lurking for a bit and seeing how the general course of list discussion goes.
Relevance is very important regarding the differences in tastes we all have. If you're on the Goo list, the one thing, the ONE thing you can assume about everyone else is that they're all also interested in the Goo Goo Dolls. To criticize or belittle someone else because of their tastes beyond what a list is for is pretty gauche anyway, but to do it via the list is beyond the pale. Don't do it.
If you'd like to talk with list folks about things not related to the list subject at hand, then you are always welcome to post a one-off message to see if there are others interested in this other thing, and to ask them to write you back PRIVATELY. It's that simple. The same rule applies to any polls you want to carry out -- if you'd like to survey the list on something, okay, but clearly ask that all responses to such polls be sent privately to you and not the list. Thanks!
Having said all this, one more note -- I tend to be much more watchful of non-list subject threads. This is because the list is so busy already that off-topic posts already add to a hefty daily mail load. Just a note!
And one more thing as well -- it's just bad in general to write back responses to a list message by quoting the whole message, especially if it's really long, and simply adding, "I agree!" at the end. If you do that, expect some private messages from me about it! It's a bad habit you really want to break.
Essentially, this is the key thing about lists. As you're all aware one way or another, the Net, while definitely a wonderfully free place, is at times a place of sublime obnoxiousness, with insults and flames flying hither and yon. Disagreement and differing opinions are wonderful things; pointless insults and 'attitude' are not.
These lists are not your private insult playground. They are public forums, unmoderated by myself, and you are always more than welcome to say what you wish to say. However, starting -- OR continuing -- a flamewar where you bring down the level of discourse to a series of pointless insults between yourself and whoever else is out there is not to be tolerated.
If you want to attack another person privately, hey, whatever turns you on. I obviously do not nor cannot nor will not monitor private exchanges between list members, and if certain people are attacking each other behind the scenes, as it were, then that's your business. However, turning such a private disagreement public is really bad. Even more obnoxious is the posting of specifically private mail to a list -- that is a clear violation of Netiquette, of trust, and much more besides. Do not do this, period.
Do not, do NOT, do not EVER post such attached files or letters to the list you are on. It is that simple. Also, majordomo is set up to reject any messages over a certain size limit.
Why? There are many reasons. First, it slows down machine effectiveness in delivering mail. But second and most critically, you are blowing out mailboxes all over the world. Essentially, you are sending a huge file to all the list members. Now, not all the list members have gigabytes of spare memory space. They might even be charged by the amount of memory messages take up. They could have slow modem connections which combined with a program that doesn't allow you to halt delivery of a file could mean literally hours of downloading time. Especially beautiful is when you send around a file or program viewable only in a Windows or a Mac environment -- meaning all of those using the other system will be stuck with a useless file on top of everything else. Chain letters, while nowhere near as hefty as a program can be, are still annoying clutter under any name; personally I hold them on the same level as yer usual sound files and the like in terms of worthiness and desirability.
As for virus warnings, after literally years' worth of warnings about 'Good Times' and other similarly pseudo-viri which exist only to confuse newcomers to the net and to annoy everyone else, I have yet to encounter one such warning that was legitimate; it's very likely that'll be the case with you too. Here's a tip -- if it talks about how the mere act of reading a message will cause your hard drive to explode, or something similar, then you're dealing with a message so bogus it makes The Weekly World News and The Sun seem like the avatars of truth and enlightenment. Don't forward them unless you want to tick everyone else off.
Do you wish to share a nice file or program? It is very simple -- do one of two things. Either offer to send it privately to those who ask or make it available for downloading via the Web. That's all you have to do. Must you send a chain letter you are absolutely sure needs to be sent? Contact me with the text of the letter and I'll suggest a more appropriate place to send it -- even if it is somewhere like alt.spam. Got a virus warning and feeling the fear? Write me with the text of it and I'll tell you why you shouldn't worry.
Violation of this policy, unlike the other policies here, will result in being IMMEDIATELY kicked off the list once I find out about it.
With the improvements in majordomo that have now been carried out, lots of past problems have been fixed.
If at any time you do have questions regarding the functions of majordomo, or somehow have problems unsubscribing, you may always write me directly at penberth@mindspring.com.
Future policy additions will appear as needed. Personally, I think the less that needs to be said and remembered, the better!