Hot Shareware 32/hot34.iso/ficheros/VUBBS/ELRUL804.ZIP/CW-RULES.RUL

Text File | 1998-03-28 | 8KB | 149 lines

 {Civil War History Echo Rules} ================== {Updated: 10/23/97}

In accordance with current practice and adopted echomail policy
within Fidonet, the following rules have been established for the
Civil War History Echo.  The following rules will be posted
periodically in the echo.

The purpose of the rules is quite simply to make sure the messages
conform to Fidonet standards, keep the threads on topic, and to
ensure that we all can peacefully co-exist here.

1.  The topic is subjects related to the Civil War itself, such as;
    The battles of and participants in The War; The causes of The War;
    The political and social factors leading to The War, during The
    War, and immediately following The War, up to and including the
    year 1877 (the Reconstruction Period), etc.  "On-topic" would also
    include, for example messages concerning the re-enactments of the
    battles of The War Between the States, finding records of
    ancestors who fought in The War, visiting and preserving Civil War
    historical sites and artifacts, and discussions of the many books
    that have been written on The War.  Specifically OFF-TOPIC are
    discussions of current political situations and viewpoints, and
    discussion or comments about the way the echo is or should be
    moderated - unless specifically solicited by the moderators.  The
    moderator is always open to comments, suggestions, and
    constructive criticism... as long as it is done in netmail.

2.  Advocating the overthrow of the U.S. Government will result in
    immediate ejection from the echo.

3.  Due to the problems we've experienced because of the volatility of
    the discussions of slavery, I'm going to lay out some ground rules
    which I hope will help keep the discussion focussed on the Civil
    War.

    a.  Discussion of slavery and slave owners is limited to items and
            issues DIRECTLY related in a historical sense to The War.
            For example, discussion of the origins of slavery in
            Jamestown, Roman or Greek slave practices, indentured
            servants, etc. are NOT on topic.

    b.  Discussion of whether slavery was right or wrong, or good or
            bad, in an ethical sense, is off topic in this echo.

    c.  Discussion of the motivations or actions of slaveowners or
            the treatment of slaves is off topic, unless it is in
            reference to a specific CW period instance relevant to the
            war.  For example, discussion of the "paternalism" of
            slave owners, or their failure to recognize the evils of
            the slave system are off topic.  These topics contribute
            much heat and little light to discussion of the events of
            the War.

4.  Topics of a volatile nature should be dealt with maturely.  Use of
    "buzzwords" (words which are intended to provoke a reaction) such
    as "Political Correctness" (PC) or "revisionist history" is
    _strongly_ discouraged as such words usually impede discussion and
    create confusion and animosity.  Mature, open-minded, and level-
    headed discussion is encouraged, but do not expect that anyone
    will alter his or her opinion on a topic regardless of however
    logical and eloquent you believe yourself to be.  In the interest
    of mature discussion, the use of aliases is not allowed in this
    echo (this includes posts via any "anonymous remailer").  Adults
    don't, generally, need to disguise their identity when discussing
    history.

5.  DO NOT EVER attack someone else for what they say.  Disagree with
    them if you like, but don't make personal attacks.  Read what you
    have typed *before* you send it off.

6.  Shouldn't have to say it, but please, no ethnic or racial slurs!
    No racial stances in the echo (except in interpretation of the
    historical characters's motivations and their times).

7.  Do not quote too much of the messages you are replying to.  Only
    enough is needed so the reader knows the context of your message.

8.  "Off topic" messages should be ignored.  The moderators will
    respond to them directly.  Answers by others just tend to
    perpetuate the problem and to lead the threads astray.  Allow the
    moderators to do their job.  (Moderating will be done, primarily,
    via netmail.  So just because you don't see the moderators at work
    doesn't mean that they are not hard at it; earning their huge
    salaries.)

9.  Sysops (system operators) from throughout the country spend their
    own hard-earned $$$ to make these echos available for our pleasure
    and education.  Therefore, advertisements of any kind are *TABOO*.
    It is totally unfair to ask these sysops to pay your advertising
    costs, and your cooperation here is most certainly expected.  This
    does not mean that you can't recommend a good place to get
    re-enactors' supplies or books about The War... what it does mean
    is you can't advertise a business or product (of any kind) in
    which you have a financial interest or if you will personally
    benefit from the advertisement.

10. Discussion of your feelings about how this echo is or should be
    moderated are off-topic in the echo.  They detract from the
    purpose and the flow of the echo.  We are always open to your
    ideas, suggestions, and constructive criticisms, just send them to
    us in netmail, email, or leave us a message on Fool's Gold BBS
    with your voice number and one of us will call and discuss it with
    you.

11. Taglines will be considered to be part of your message text and,
    as such, should be limited to those related to the topic of this
    echo as much as possible.  Use of gutter language is not
    appropriate in taglines or in messages... this is a G-rated echo.
    Current political topic/issues are off topic in taglines or
    message text.  Extended signature blocks and repeated posting of
    your Internet address are not permitted here because they take up
    bandwidth for no purpose.

12. From time to time, the moderators may declare a topic "closed" due
    to excessive heat generated by the discussion and/or annoying
    posting on that topic.  The moderators will inform the echo when a
    topic is closed and when it is open for discussion once again.

13. Remember that the moderators are also a participants here.
    "Moderator" messages will either use the names "Moderator" or
    "Co-Moderator"in the "From:" field in the message header or be
    signed with the full name and title of the moderator.  All other
    messages by a person who happens to be one of the moderators are
    simply posts expressing the views of that individual.

14. This echo may not be gated to other networks without the express,
    written and signed, permission of the moderators.

That's all the rules folks.  They are mostly just common sense and
common courtesy (and used to be *much* shorter) and can be distilled
into these words to live by:  "Play nice or play somewhere else".

   The purpose of this echo is to discuss the history of the Civil
   War, not to refight it or prove either side right or wrong.
   Discussions of the period before the CW and after might be more
   appropriate in the History echo, while discussions of ethics and
   political factors might be better dealt with in the Philosophy or
   Politics echos.

Please remember that this is supposed to be a fun and educational echo
for the sharing of knowledge.

Have fun, learn a little, and I hope you all continue to enjoy the echo.

Steve Bowers, 1:3634/37.4
Ron Hamilton, 1:3634/12.108
Moderators, Civil War History Echo