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GUIDELIN.ATN
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Alternat Guidelines 4-18-93
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These rules are more Guidelines than written in stone.
They are flexible in that if need be, they can be waived or
modified on a case by case basis.
You must be a FREE bbs to echo Alternet.
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INTRODUCTION:
Welcome and thank you for downloading the Alternet Information Package.
Alternet is a network dedicated to providing a method of exchanging
ideas, meeting people, and learning about the world around
us.
The guidelines which follow were written solely as a means of
providing a basic foundation for the net, and to keep information
flowing. If you have any questions feel free to send a message to
the Net Coordinators
Thank you again for looking into Alternet and we eargerly await the
chance to talk to you and your users.
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BASIC DEFINITIONS:
Distrabution Point A BBS that acts as a "Reginal" Hub
Refered to as DP hereafter.
Hubs Hubs call the Distrabution points for mail,
and feed mail to one or more Nodes/Hubs
There are two types of Hubs, Full and Partial.
Full hubs carry all Alternet conferences,
Partial do not.
Nodes A BBS that does not feed any other BBS's
Net Host The Level 0 BBS who acts as the Host for the
Network. Refered to as NH hereafter
Net Coordination Team A Group of Sysops and users who act as a
coordination team for Administrative paper-
work. Refered to as NCT hereafter.
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APPLICATIONS:
Generally, having your BBS accepted for node status in Atlernet is as
simple as submitting a Node Information Sheet. To be accepted
all you must do is:
Express a desire to echo the Net
Agree to abide by the few guidelines we do have
Fill out a Node Information Sheet (should be included here!)
Find a BBS that will echo to you and start having fun !!!
We realize that problems might arise from time to time between BBS's
The is why we have the policy that if one Hub can not/will not
pass mail to you, find any other that will. DENIAL BY ONE BBS
DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN NOT ENJOY THE NET. If a Hub turns you down,
you have the option of asking another Hub.
Once you have sent your Node Information Sheet to your intended Hub
Please be understanding in this as sysops have problems too, if you do not
hear an answer within this time, just leave a message to the BBS
sysop and they will be back with you as soon as possible.
If a Hub should turn you down, the BBS sysop is required to state the
reasons for denial to the NCT explaining why.
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MAIL RELAY SOFTWARE:
Alternet does not require any particular form of message format or relay
software. Member systems currently use QWK.
BBS's are free to work out those arrangements that best suit their
needs.
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SYSOP RESPONSIBILITIES:
Member BBSes should make these guidelines available to those users who
will be participating in ALternet conferences. This can be as a logon
screen, a bulletin, or a file. This will help avoid confusion on
the part of new users and help the net flow smoothly. A list of all
conferences available on Alternet should also be posted so users will be
aware of any conferences not carried by your BBS.
Sysops are responsible for the users of their BBS. Please encourage
your users to follow the guidelines
Hubs and DP's in turn are responsible for the actions of the Nodes
(BBSes) echoing from them.
All members are asked to keep a current Alternet Information Package
available for download from their BBS.
All member BBSes are requested to carry Alternet Admin
conferences. Some Hub's, or DP's may also require that you echo a
number of conferences such as Hub/DP Admin or such.
Taglines for BBSes should be along the following guidelines.
AlterNet * <BBS name> * <City & State> * <BBS phone number>.
It is understood that some net/relay software may make this
impossible, we only ask that you do your best.
Please insure that the Host Tagline inserted by your system
matches the tagline used by your Hub. This can be very
important in tracking down any problems in the relay process.
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HUB/DP RESPONSIBILITIES:
Hubs and DPs will be responsible for processing any request to echo TTN. The
acceptance or denial of any individual request is totally at the
discretion of the sysop of that particular Hub. We do ask that the
Hub take no longer that 3 days to reply to a request, even if it is
merely to inform the requesting BBS that you are working on it. We
do understand that there will be times when this is not possible
(vacations, sickness, etc) If a Hub refuses to Echo to a particular
BBS, they must forward a message to the Net Coordination Team in
Net Admin Conference explaining their reasons why. This is to
alleviate any prejudices against anyone. We do understand that a
Hub may have moral reasons not to Echo to an applicant, but Prejudice
will not be tolerated.
Once approved, Hubs should pass the Newly processed Node Information
Sheet up to the Node Coordinator for its inclusion into the latest
Node List.
It is suggested that all Hubs arrange a schedule for its mail runs, using
such software as will insure that the BBS is available to the Nodes at
the times agreed upon.
Any Hub that plans to stop echoing Alternet should assist their Nodes in
finding another Hub, and provide a fair advance warning. (as possible)
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The Net Coordination Team:
The group that provides administrative housekeeping to help the net stay
running smoothly. It is comprised of Four to Six individuals, plus
the Net Host.
Selection of the team is by volunteering for an opening, and approval by
the Net Host and the other NC Team members. If more than one person
volunteers for an opening, a run-off election by popular vote of all
TTN sysops will decide the outcome.
Duties of the Net Coordination Team are as follows
Coordinate the activities of the Net to facilitate the flow of
mail
Act as arbiter between member sysops who are unable to resolve
their differences.
Review an complaints brought against a member BBS or Sysop
Maintain an up to date Conference/Moderators Listing and Hub/
Node Listings
The NC team may grant waivers to any provisions in these guide-
lines.
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CONFERENCES:
Conferences are the "Bread and Butter" of any network. For a network to
grow, it must offer topics which interest users, or are a source of
useful or helpful information. With this in mind, Alternet has a VERY
liberal outlook on Conferences.
Alternet makes provisions for Private Conferences as the Need arises. Private
conferences are those which are only for selected groups. An example
would be the Alternet Sysops conference.
DP/Hubs may require that Nodes pulling mail from them carry certain Local
Echo conferences such as Local/Regional Admin/Chat conferences.
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MODERATORS:
Moderators are an important part of any network. Without a strong
Moderator, a conference can quickly die.
The duties of the Conference moderators are as follows:
Enforce all network Guidelines
Keep Messages on topic
Do not allow users to "Flame" others
Help the users to the best of your ability
Keep the conference going--do not let it DIE
Control message quoting--do not allow over-quoting to
get out of control.
Have fun and help others have fun.
Any Moderator having problems with a user, is requested to notify the
NC team for further action.
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The DREADED RULES ??
Alternet does not really have Rules, we have guidelines. We would request
that all Net Sysops make these available
for your users as a bulletin, a logon screen, a file or any other way
available to you.
Don't be Annoying, or be Easily Annoyed.
No "Flaming" is allowed. Personal attacks will not be tolerated in
any Alternet conference. Any user found to be slandering others, being
abusive, discriminating against a person because of their Race,
Religion, Color, Sexual Preference, Culture, or Sex, or it they
are found to be just plain arrogant, can and may be locked out of
Alternet.
No Illegal Activities. Any use of Alternet to promote Illegal activities
will be grounds for removal from the network.
Users of Alternet should be advised that no attempt is made to provide
private communications capabilities. All messages placed on the
Net must be considered public and are open to all having Net
Sysop status.
BBS ads are not encouraged, Remember that all sysops pay out of their
own pockets to echo the net. If you wish to place an Ad for a new BBS
on Alternet, please post a single message stating what conferences you
carry, not one message in each conference you carry.
Use your own judgment, If you would not like it done to you, don't do it
to others.
The most important guideline, what age group is to be allowed access.
That will be left up to the Sysop of the BBS. Some of the conferences
will lend themselves to Adult type conversations, so use your own
judgement. The net coordination team in any way can be held responsible
for the contents of asny message.
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AMENDMENTS:
From time to time, it may be necessary to make amendments to the existing
guidelines.
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We hope these Guidelines do not scare anyone away as that is not our
intent. Our intent is to have a place where we can all have fun
and hopefully learn something from one another.