Reminder on posting rules (not for this group)

[Lyn J. Mangiameli]

Naama
My posts have been to "the old crowd" group.
You post your "reminder" to "the old crowd" group, as I am sure you know.
Your reference from the "Humongous Bigfile" (so very appropriately named) is from the 
group HPfGU group, as I am again sure you well know.

Two different groups, so no "reminder" of any posting rules for this group.

The rules of "the old crowd" [TOC] are readily available, are very few (thankfully) and 
appear to have been determined 
in a spirit of tolerance and desire for minimal control (quite unlike the HPfGU structure). 
The rule for TOC that is pertient here is number three:" We observe accepted 
netiquette in terms of behaviour and standards."  I suspect that nearly all on this group are 
participants in other "Net" forums and newsgroups which have behavior, standards, and 
conventions that are considerably less restrictive than the HPfGU standards. As an 
example, I regularly post to three forums and one newsgroup, none of which have found 
any need to specifiy quoting and snipping regulations, let alone ones as extensive and 
narrow as the HPfGU group has established for itself.   

Now I know that many at TOC came out of the HPfGU group, some even having played a 
role 
in the establishment and administration of that group. I'm sure that many here are well 
socialized to the HPfGU regulations and might wish to follow them in their posts to this 
group. But I would point out that there is nothing in TOC rules that state we all 
must abide by the unusually controlling regulations of another group (which may have 
been necessary in the other's circumstances, but not necessary here). 

Some of the newer members never were part of HPfGU, some who were members never 
chose to 
post there under its regulations (I being one), and some once were members but chose or 
were asked to end their involvement (I notice more than one name here on TOC which fits 
this description).  If one preferes to post according to the hide-bound requirements of 
HPfGU, then by all means due so. But I have been under the impression that TOC group 
exists in no small part to be a more relaxed and open atmosphere, such as is possible with 
fewer members.  

I do think it is helpful to consider that conventions that some might be familiar with and 
thus comfortable with, are not necessarily superior. In some small groups where I post, 
having referencing quotations located at the beginning of each post would be found 
tedious.  Why?, because we already have followed the train of discussion and don't wish to  
have to scroll through an unknown number of previously read lines of "backstory" to get to 
the response (how many times have we all had to scroll through half a dozen paragraphs 
on HPfGU to get to a two sentence reply?). Is what may be useful for a group the size of 
HPfGU really required for TOC? I suspect the very few rules set up for TOC represents the 
answer.    

I think we would all agree that civility and courtesy towards other group members is a 
necessary foundation for a stable group.  I believe such acts are often better conveyed in 
the tone and attitude by which we post to others, than in any specific allegiance to rule 
sets. Snarkiness, and often down right rudeness abounds on HPfGU, all within their 
posting strictures. 

In the end, I suspect this diversion into posting conventions represents the growing pains 
of a small group absorbing new members. It is the age old dilemma of increasing diversity 
of opinion and thought, while some still wishing to retain the familiar. Frankly, I didn't 
have any intention or interest in starting such a discussion (and didn't), but neither do I 
intend to quietly accept being chastised because I didn't subscribe to someone else's 
preferences. 

Lyn    


--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "naamagatus" <naama_gat at h...> wrote:
> 
> --- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "kumayama" <kumayama at e...> 
> wrote:
> > 
> > Ah, Sean, 
> > I thanked you in advance, and I shall again thank you now for 
> making quite clear your 
> > meaning.  You find merit in a convention I don't subscribe to (nor 
> feel bound by--ever 
> > notice the rules for participating in this group?-- DU can serve as 
> a model of how to 
> > rectify that). 
> 
> 
> From the Humongous Bigfile (on Posting Rules):
> 
> 
> ========================
> 2.4 Quoted Material
> 
> 2.4.1 Attribution
> Please put quoted material before your own comments, and identify the 
> author at the beginning of the quote. When replying to a post 
> containing comments from more than one person, make sure you 
> attribute the comments to the proper person.
> 
> ...
> 
> Please clearly indicate quoted material (for example, by using 
> chevrons or angle brackets [>], which Yahoo and many e-mail programs 
> insert automatically; or by putting quoted material between quotation 
> marks).
> 
> 
> 2.4.2 Snipping
> 
> To be kind to those with slow internet connections, please snip (edit 
> down) all quoted material, leaving only the minimum necessary for 
> others to understand your reply. 
> 
> ...
> 
> ==========================
> 
> 
> 
> Naama