Freedom Astrology

1. Rules

Libel (untrue hurtful statements about another) is prohibited.

Privacy must not be breached. Do not quote private email without the permission of all parties involved. If you have received email that says "please distribute" then this constitutes permission and you need not seek permission again.

Copyrights must be honored. You must attribute your sources every time you quote from another's work.

Willfully breaking these rules may result in your name being deleted from the list.

If you have a problem and don't know how to handle it, if these instructions are unclear, or if you are a little shaky with the technology stuff and would prefer I do something for you, please email me at jschmitz@qis.net and I'll help.

I want to join the list. How do I do that?

Visit: http://epistolary.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/freedom and fill out the form. Select a password which will allow you to change your subscription and unsubscribe, and select whether you want to receive the regular version of the list or the digest.

You will receive a confirmation from the server, which you must respond to (to keep other people from subscribing you without your knowledge). Once you confirm your subscription, you're on board! Welcome!

Wow! Now I'm a member. How do I send a new message on a new subject to the list?

Send your message to:

How do I reply to a message I got from the list?

If you wish to reply to the WHOLE LIST, just do what you would normally do to reply to any email that you get. The messages are set up so that all replies go back to the list.

If you wish to reply PRIVATELY TO THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE MESSAGE, you will have to delete the freedom list address in the TO: space in your mail software, and replace it with the name of the person who sent the message. Always check twice to make sure you are not sending private mail publicly to the list.

3. Suggestions.

These are only suggestions, but it is my experience that they make for a good discussion on a list.

Ignoring these suggestions will not result in anything being done to you.

• DO join an ongoing discussion if you have something to add; you don't need to wait for an invitation.
• DO read before replying: read the post you're replying to, to make sure it says what you think it says; read the other posts on the subject, to see if your point has already essentially been made, and read your own reply, to make sure it says what you want it to say.
• DO think about whether you want to send your reply to the whole list or to one person. This doesn't mean we can't be conversational, but think twice about posting another update on Grandma's gallstones.
• DO try to include the word "chat" in the subject line if your message is not serious astrology, or otherwise indicate that it's non-serious, so that those who have limited time can concentrate on the more serious messages.
• DO quote specifically relevant parts of a post you are replying to, but no more. If quotes are getting to be six levels deep they are very difficult to follow and usually add no new, useful information.
• DO quote carefully so that your quote still means what the writer meant, and be sure to attribute the words to the right person ("Bob said:").
• DO make it clear to whom or what you are referring. If you are replying to a specific person you can write "Hi Bob" at the top of your post. Saying "some people" when you mean a specific person or persons is weaselly.
• DO consider writing a reply that expresses your view on the subject without quoting material at all. This makes it less confrontational and often easier to follow.
• DO wait after writing a scathing reply before sending it. Take a walk, throw a Frisbee, play with the dog. Work out the adrenaline and then decide what you want to do.
• DO think twice about jumping to the defense of someone else. Let him or her have first crack at it. He or she may not have been offended or insulted at all, and the result can be an unintentional pile-up.
• DO remember that there is a human being at each end of the conversation, even if you're convinced that you're arguing with Ted Bundy or Forrest Gump.
• DO use a sense of humor, if you have one.
• DO have fun, be playful, give people the benefit of the doubt.