Media Share 9/MEDIASHARE_09.ISO/mailers/elrul303.zip/GAYTEEN.RUL

Text File | 1993-01-01 | 7KB | 139 lines

                        GAYTEEN POLICY
                 Rules as of January 1, 1993


1) PURPOSE:
        The purpose of GAYTEEN is to provide a forum for the discussion by
teens of the concerns by teens relating to a homosexual sexuality. Many of
the participants are teens who have already come to terms with their
sexuality. Other participants are teens who are "exploring their options"
and want to learn more about the homosexual lifestyle.


2) ACCESS:
        GAYTEEN is an International Fidonet Backbone Echo which is
available to any BBS which can receive echoes from the Fidonet Backbone. It
is preferred that Sysops allow ALL teen callers access to the echo
(including first-time callers) for reading purposes. If your software
supports a different security level for writing messages, it is preferred
that writing privileges be withheld until you are comfortable enough that
the user will not be violating these rules, since the Sysop is ultimately
responsible for all messages leaving his/her BBS.  Sysops are requested to
try to insure that ONLY those people under the age of 20 will have access
to the echo. Otherwise, no one should be barred from the echo because of
age, sexuality, or any other criteria, as long as they abide by these
rules.

3) USER NAMES:
        The decision as to the form of name required for use in the
conference is left to the individual sysop of each participating BBS.
This means that some systems may allow handles while others might not.
        When handles are permitted, they should be of two parts, so as
to form a name which could pass as a possible real name. Handles may not
bear sexual connotations or innuendoes; nor contain terms which are
offensive in polite society. Handles may not be a common name that would be
easily selectable by several different people, thus causing problems with
mail delivery.

4) MESSAGE CONSTRUCTION:
        a)  High ASCII characters are discouraged in Fidonet because of
the problems they can cause to mailers, packers, and even non-IBM
machines. They are not tolerated in this echo.
        b)  ALL CAPITAL LETTERS HAVE THE EFFECT OF SHOUTING. It is also
an illiterate style. Please do not shout or be illiterate.
        c)  The official language of GAYTEEN is English and messages
should only contain English language.
        d)  Private messages are not permitted since the Fidonet Backbone
does not support them.
        e)  The 'From:' line must either be a real name, or a
non-offensive pseudonym. The word SYSOP is not allowed in the 'From:"
line.

5) MESSAGE CONTENT:
        a) Messages will not contain profanity or words defined in
Webster's dictionary as obscene. If you wouldn't use the word in front
of your grandmother, then don't use it here.
        b)  Messages will not depict or describe sexual acts of any kind
or 'How to' messages designed to improve performance.
            EXCEPTION: Messages couched in formal medical terminology
whose primary purpose is to promote safe sex are allowed as long as they
do not appeal to a person's prurient interests.
        c)  Messages will not promote, advocate or otherwise encourage
the use of illegal substances, the conduct of illegal acts or the
abuse of various substances or things (i.e. alcohol, children, etc).
        d)  This echo is for civilized, reasonably mature discussions.
Messages will not be inflammatory or abusive toward, or about, anyone,
or anything.
        e)  No advertising of any kind is permitted. This particularly
includes messages telling the world what you are looking for, either as
a lover, or as a 'one-night stand'.
        f)  Phone numbers and addresses are not permitted, under any
circumstances. BBS and other computer numbers are also prohibited.
Origin lines MUST have a valid Fidonet address in them.
        g)  Messages MUST be on-topic. To be on-topic, a message must be
discussing the aspects of teen-agers who either are gay, or may be gay. The
world, at large, is continually bombarded by negative-ness about being gay.
The main purpose of this echo is to counteract those situations - to
provide a 'safe haven' type of atmosphere, particularly for teens who are
curious about what it is like to be gay; teens who are just begining to
come to terms with their own sexuality.
            NOTE: Threads will frequently start out on-topic and quickly
drift to something else. It is the responsibility of each participant to
recognize this and either steer the thread back on-topic, or to end the
thread.
        h)  Messages must be of interest to all readers. One-on-one
messages between a few people are not permitted.

6) MESSAGE QUOTING:
        The quoting of a SMALL portion of the message you are replying
to is encouraged to establish the context of your reply. However, the
quoting of large portions of the message is discouraged. Quoting of the
SEEN-BY lines and PATHS is prohibited, since this messes up some of the
Fidonet mailers and packers.

7) VIOLATION OF THE RULES:
        If another person has violated the rules, or made some
inappropriate comment, refrain from responding IN the echo. We don't
need several people responding to one violation, causing a lot of
unnecessary messages. It is the Moderator's job to deal with this, and
it will frequently be done behind the scenes.
        Violators will be dealt with in accordance with the then
currently active Fidonet Echo Policy.

8) ANNOYING BEHAVIOR:
        Fidonet policy details (and prohibits) annoying behavior.
Annoying behavior by anyone in the GAYTEEN conference shall not be
allowed. According to the Webster's New World Dictionary of the American
Language:
annoy - to irritate, bother, etc as by a repeated action.

9) COMPLAINTS & CRITICISMS:
        Complaints and criticisms (both good and bad) are Off-Topic in
the conference and will not be tolerated. You can netmail them to the
Moderator. Netmail that is coherent and rational will be responded to;
otherwise I will use my delete key. Complaints and criticisms are also
expected to contain suggested ways to correct the situation. This also
applies to suggested amendments to these rules. Proposed amendments are
off-topic in the echo. Ask your local Sysop for more information about
sending Netmail to me.

10) PRECEDENCE:
        Should any item in this set of rules be in direct contradiction
with that of the current Fidonet Policy (presently Policy 4), Fidonet
Echo Policy, or any other upper Fidonet policy currently in existence or
to be released in the future, then the rules as stated in said upper
level document shall apply in lieu of that of this document.

11) AUTHORITY:
        The Moderator has the sole authority to determine who is, and
who is not violating these rules. The Moderator's interpretation of the
rules will be the final decision.
        Anyone who does not agree to these rules CAN NOT participate in
the GAYTEEN Echo. The first posting of a message by a person in this
echo constitutes his/her total acceptance of the rules.

Sid Balcom,
Moderator  1:109/343