Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 3/23/84; site cbosgd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cbosgd!postann@cbosgd.UUCP
From: postann@cbosgd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.announce.newusers
Subject: Rules for posting to Usenet
Message-ID: <208@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Aug-84 20:14:48 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.208
Posted: Mon Aug  6 20:14:48 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 7-Aug-84 05:24:53 EDT
Sender: mark@cbosgd.UUCP
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 75
Approved: postann@cbosgd.UUCP

This message describes some of the rules of conduct on Usenet.  The rules
vary depending on the newsgroup.

Some newsgroups are intended for discussions and some for announcements or
queries.  It is not usually a good idea to carry on discussions in newsgroups
that are designated otherwise.  It is never a good idea to carry on
"meta-discussions" about whether a given discussion is appropriate - such
traffic mushrooms until nobody can find articles that belong.  If you are
unhappy with what some user said, send them mail, don't post it.

Before posting, think about where your article is going.  If it's posted to
a "net." newsgroup, it will probably go to the USA, Canada, Europe, Korea,
and Australia.  Certain articles are only of local interest (e.g. used car
ads) and it is inappropriate to post them to the whole world.  Use the
"Distribution" feature to restrict distribution to your local area.  If you
don't know how to use this feature, read "Frequently Submitted Items"
in another article in net.announce.newusers.

Announcement of professional products or services on Usenet is allowed;
however, since someone else is paying the phone bills for this, it is
important that it be of overall benefit to Usenet.  Post to an
appropriate newsgroup, never a general purpose newsgroup such as
net.general.  Clearly mark your article as a product announcement in
the subject.  Never repeat these - one article per product at the most;
preferably group everything into one article.  Advertising hype is
especially frowned upon - stick to technical facts.  Obnoxious or
inappropriate announcements, or articles violating this policy, are
very serious and cause for removing your machine from Usenet.  This
policy is, of course, subject to change if it becomes a problem.

Some newsgroups are moderated.  In these groups, you cannot post directly,
either by convention or because the software prevents it.  To post to these
newsgroups, send mail to the moderator.

Newsgroup	Moderator	Purpose
net.announce	cbosgd!announce	Important announcements for everyone on the net
mod.ber		harpo!ber	Summaries of other newsgroups

Some newsgroups have special purpose rules:

Newsgroup	Rules
net.announce	Moderated, no direct postings, very important things only.
net.general	Announcements only, no discussions, very important things only.
net.followup	Followups to net.general, results of surveys (no discussions)
net.wanted	Queries, "I want an x", "Anyone want my x?".  No discussions.
		Don't post to more than one xxx.wanted.  Use the smallest
		appropriate wanted (e.g. used car ads to nj.wanted.)
net.flame	Normal standards of courtesy are not observed here.
net.jokes	Clean jokes only; anything offensive must be rotated; no
		discussions - jokes only.  Discussions go in net.jokes.d
net.movies	Don't post anything revealing part of a movie without marking
		it (spoiler) in the subject.
net.news.group	Discussions about new groups: whether to create them and what
		to call them.  Don't post yes/no votes, mail them to the author
net.sources	Big files such as source code, no discussions.
net.test	Use the smallest test group possible, e.g. "test" or "ucb.test".
		Say in the body of the message what you are testing.
net.women.only	Men are discouraged from participating, and are forbidden
		from criticizing a topic or person in this newsgroup.

It is perfectly legal to reproduce short extracts of a copyrighted work for
critical purposes, but reproduction in whole is strictly and explicitly
forbidden.  Otherwise, there would be no way for the artist to make money,
and there would thus be less motive for people to go to the trouble of
making their art available at all.  The crime of theft is as serious in this
context as any other, even though you may not have to pick locks, mask your
face, or conceal merchandise.

All opinions or statements made in messages posted to Usenet should
be taken as the opinions of the person who wrote the message.  They
do not necessarily represent the opinions of the employer of that
person, the owner of the computer from which the message was posted,
or anyone involved with Usenet or the underlying networks of which
Usenet is made up.  All responsibility for statements made in Usenet
messages rests with the individual posting the message.