spoiler policy for OTC [was: My theories (Do I still need to say SPOILER?)]

[penapart_elf]

Sarah's subject line asked:
> Do I still need to say SPOILER?

Yes, y'all should be using spoiler space and warnings if there 
are any HBP-spoilers in your posts to OTC.

OTC's homepage description now reads, in part:
_______________

Welcome to the sister list of HPforGrownups intended for off-topic 
chatter.  OTC is open to threads unrelated to Harry Potter; in 
addition, HP-related topics that do not contribute to our 
understanding/interpretation of canon belong here. See * below.

BEWARE! Some posts here contain SPOILERS (some without 
warnings) for Half-Blood Prince and canon in general!

If you wish to conduct OT discussions about HBP, be courteous: 
include spoiler warnings in the subject heading and give ample 
spoiler space. Please read #28488 here and follow the spoiler 
policy laid out on the Main List before the publication of HBP in 
#129899 and #130683, which now applies here.

As always, on-topic discussions (that which do contribute to our
understanding/interpretation of canon) belong on the Main List:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hpforgrownups .

<snip>

* Some HP-related but OT topics:
Navigation of www.jkrowling.com ~ Fanfics ~ Merchandise (artwork, 
book covers etc.) ~ Short posts ~ Shipping not supported by canon ~ 
British diction and traditions related to HP ~ etc.
________________

So, on a separate but related subject:

I would also like to point out that parts of Sarah's post belong 
at the main list, the other parts here. The best thing to do is 
to post to the main list the parts that could contribute to the 
canon discussion and post the parts that don't here.

Why go to all that bother?

Well, the main list archive, though difficult to search at this 
time, should be a repository of canon discussion. If I wanted to 
look up thoughts about Amelia Bones, RAB, Horcrux, etc., my search 
would not be complete without Sarah's post. So canon discussion 
should take place on the main list...please!

There *is* more to being a reader of the HP books than just 
"furthering the understanding and interpretation of canon" and 
OTC is where we can play with the canon-lite and the canon-free. 
So off-topic discussion should take place on OTC, where those who 
are interested can participate in the thread, the way they cannot 
at the main list.

Allow me to take this opportunity to also remind everyone here 
that the following HPfGU Posting Rules are meant to make the 
discussions at HPfGU *better* so please heed them not just at the 
main list but here at OTC too.

~ put your comments *after* quoted materials

~ put your comments *after* quoted materials

~ put your comments *after* quoted materials

(Well, this bears repeating! <g>)

~ use standard spelling, grammar and punctuation; proofread and 
spell check

~ attribute accurately

~ sign your posts so *others* can attribute accurately

~ snip responsibly by deleting everything that does not contribute 
to making your point(s)

~ update subject headings and make them accurate

~ follow the spoiler policy currently in place

~ provide links to as opposed to reprinting copyrighted materials 
such as articles and books unless you've gotten permission from the 
copyright holder to reprint

Please see
groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/Admin_Files/HBF_Text 
or email the List Elves at HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com 
(minus that extra space) if you've any questions about any of this.

Thanks and Cheers!

:) Penapart Elf