Rules for SFFAN This humble (?) individual, also known as the moderator of the SFFAN echo, intends that this echo be used for discussions of any subject related to SF fandom. So: Trek, Who, Anime are all acceptable topics. Of course, any literary sf topic is obviously "in bounds". Related technical discussions are also allowable, but try not to go off into "my computer is better than your computer" arguments. And, oh yes, I also allow discussions of role playing games (fantasy and otherwise). After all, RPGers are frequently sffen too! (Just try to keep things VAGUELY in the sf/fantasy area in your discussions, please?) FANTASY IS ON TOPIC. FANTASY IS ON TOPIC. FANTASY IS ON TOPIC. And what I tell you three times is true... Once ye olde moderator declares a thread "off topic" PLEASE DROP THE SUBJECT. Take any further comments to NETMAIL. Repeated infractions of this rule can result in nastygrams from the Moderator... Personal attacks are to be kept off the echo; but remember that to attack the idea is NOT the same thing as attacking the holder of that idea. Keep things "nice" -- no obscene language, no hitting below the belt. I'd like people to be a bit more careful with the quoting functions of their editors. Please do NOT quote entire messages (including the origin lines). Quote only what is necessary. Show a little bit of kindness for the sysops who have to pay to transports these messages all over the world. Commercial messages (anything that solicits money) are OFF TOPIC. If you're going to make money on the deal, TAKE IT TO NETMAIL. This is not a "for sale" echo, nor is it an "investor's hotline" echo. No one by the name of Arthur Werner, Sal Devita, or any variants thereof is permitted on this echo. We do NOT need the Werner-beast, in ANY of his incarnations, on this echo. In keeping with the spirit of this rule, Bob Charles is also banned from this echo -- for life. It is requested that no sysop allow access to or provide a feed for SFFAN to this individual. Hanah Deborah is also banned from this echo for an indefinite period, as is Graeme Smith. If message traffic is being gated into this conference from any other network, then each message must show in the origin line, the FidoNet address of the system that is doing the gating so that netmail may be properly directed to users posting from the other network. The gating station MUST BE LISTED IN THE FIDONET NODELIST AS AN APPROVED GATEWAY STATION! The first time that anyone breaks one of these or other FidoNet rules I will try and notify them via netmail. Depending upon the infraction, I may also post a message in the echo. Repeated infractions may result in the offender being banned from the echo, either for a limited time or forever. I do not need variants on the Werner-beast on this echo! Sysops are held fully accountable for the actions of all users on their BBSs. Failure by a sysop to properly discipline a user, or failure of a sysop to suspend access of a user on request of the Moderator may result in loss of access to this echo. Sysops who violate the rules of this conference, in spirit or letter, are subject to having their feeds cut without further warning. I am fully prepared to go "up the line" on this one, folks, so DO NOT PUSH YOUR LUCK. Any sysop who starts playing "rules lawyer" (and I think you all understand what I'm talking about) is subject to having his feed cut without further warning. Feed cuts will be FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS, WITH A MANDATORY ONE YEAR PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOLLOWING RESTORATION OF ACCESS. Any violation of the rules in spirit or letter during the probationary period makes the offending sysop subject to permanent loss of feed. In the event that I become unable to continue as moderator for SFFAN, Kay Shapero will serve in my stead unless and until she decides to step down. This is not a democracy. No one gets to vote on who the moderator will be. High order ASCII characters (IBM graphics characters) are not allowed in messages on this echo. They cause great grief for a lot of systems and their use is to be avoided. Special characters or strings as in those used for Postscript, TeX, and similar page description languages are not to be used in SFFAN. I would much prefer to see standard BBS practices followed (fake under- score or all caps for emphasis). These rules are not to be taken as all inclusive. The moderator re- serves the right to add rules any time he deems it necessary to main- tain the character of the echo. For those readers out there who think that SF fandom is just bit too strange for words, just zip over to one of the OTHER conferences; it will only get weirder here. The following people are on probation for rules violations: Name End of Probation ============= ================ Earl Shaft (1:102/802) 05 January 1994 Lance Johnston (1:124/8107) 13 February 1994 Dave Lillard (1:120/314) 23 July 1994 The following individuals have received an "invitation to the world": They are banned from this echo until the date listed after their names. These are "temporary" suspensions of SFFAN echomail priviledges, but they are total (no read or write access permitted to SFFAN -- all sysops carrying this echo are asked to comply) Name End of Suspension ============= ================= Nohl Rosen (1:114/12) 26 November 1993 Mr. Rosen will be on probation 26 November 1993 - 26 December 1993 Bobby Buechler (1:114/12) 27 November 1993 Mr. Buechler will be on probation 27 November 1993 - 27 December 1993 The following is a list of STATIONS that for which the feed of SFFAN has been ordered cut. Such cuts are for a minimum 6 month period, and have additional probationary periods following restoration of service: Name End of Suspension ============= ================= Modern BBS (Rick Kosick sysop) 28 December 1993 Modern BBS will be on probation 29 December 1993 - 29 December 1994 -- Nicolai Shapero, the slightly bemused sysop of StormGate Aerie Moderator of the SFFAN echo.