These rules are generally sent out at the beginning of each month, but given the discussion here as of late, I though posting them three days earlier might be advisable. There is widespread belief that I have introduced dozens of new rules since taking over the list. Since the rules have gone from near-zero enforcement to full enforcement in a rather short period of time, this feeling is certainly understandable. What follows are the complete list rules as of this time. The ONLY modification made to these rules is the addition of the rule headed ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. In all other respects, the rules have not been added to, subtracted from, or altered in any way. Even the ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES rule is implied elsewhere in the rules. These rules will be enforced. They were written by the list owner, who did a fantastic job of compiling them. Please read these rules. If you don't like them and want to talk to me about them, please send to jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx If you can't accept them, you are not obligated to remain on this list. I realize this list is not for everyone, and there are no hard feelings of any kind if you feel this list is not for you. So here are the rules, from hereon in posted on the first day of each month. JFW List Rules The rules are simple and straight forward. The aims of the rules are: Permitting list members, to make informed discissions on reading or replying to messages. Reducing the amount of spam, unsolicited, and unwanted messages. Insuring list members stay on topic. Encouraging members to help each other with problems. Insuring we all are polite to each other. Providing a useful resource on Jaws for Windows (JFW). These rules shouldn't cause anyone to complain too much. Any comments on the rules, Do not send a message to the mail list, rather please send a message to: jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Please carefully read and adhere to the rules below: Message format The preferred format for messages that are sent to the JFW mail list is plain text. Your Email program might require configuring to insure that your messages are sent as plain text by default. Instructions for various email programs are available on the faq section of the web page at http://jfw.cjb.net/faq. STAY ON TOPIC The topic for the jfw list is: How to use any version of Jaws For windows (JFW). How to use Jaws for Windows with applications. Example of permissible messages are: Jaws 451: How do you turn off the Virtual Cursor. Jaws3.2: What video cards does Jaws work with. Jaws 5.0 beta: What is this Mouse Over? Word 2000: How do you find out the size of a table column? Access 2002: How do you set up a relationship? Jaws 4.51: Where do I learn about scripts: MSN 6: I cannot read the messages being sent to me. Members who insist on posting messages that are off topic will be restricted from posting messages to the list. Placing in the body of the message replies to be sent privately doesnt excuse members from posting off topic messages. This doesn't mean that you cannot ask questions about how well jfw works with a particular application. As long as you are asking about jfw's interaction with that program. Remember, the list is here for help with jfw, not help on how to use another application. The moderator has final say on if a message is off topic or not. Please leave it to us. If you have a concern about a message, then send your comments to the moderator privately. SUBJECT LINES Subject lines should be clear and identify what the contents of the message is about. If the contents of the message change, the subject line should also change. Members who have subscribed to the digest mode, should take note of this point. Some members who read the list in digest mode, leave the subject line the same as the digests. Besides making subjects relevant to message content, put the most important part at the beginning of the subject. Remember that some (awful) mailers show as few as 20 characters of the subject, so those 20 characters should give the meat of the idea. An ideal structure for a subject line is: Application name, brief synopsis For example: MsWord 2k, I cannot create tables. OE 5.5, the spell checker doesn't work. Windows 98, I cannot get my sound to work. Adobe 6, I cannot access secure documents. The above subject structure immediately informs other list members about the message. This allows people to make a informed decision on what action they will perform on that message. Clearer the synopsis (brief description), the greater chance that someone will be able to help you. Unclear subject lines are not permitted on this list. Examples of unclear (not permitted) subject lines are: Help Please!!! I have a problem!!! Alt f4 Problem!!! Thanks. I agree Me too Test I think we all know that everyone appreciates the help provided by users on the jfw list. A message that simply contains a "thank you" to members of the list, although sent with the best of intentions, just increases the number of messages members must filter through. If you want to thank people, send them private email. The same applies for those very annoying messages that just say "me too", when agreeing with another member. Holiday greetings fall into the same category. These types of message waste peoples time, increase band width and clutter up your email program with possible unwanted messages. If you see a message that doesn't have a clear subject line, ignore it. The sender will eventually learn that unclear subject lines do not get any responses on this mail list. Also following this guideline of ignoring messages with unclear subject lines, you are not promoting bad habits. For those people who don't learn, then necessary educational actions will be taken by the moderators. QUOTING AND REPLIES TO MESSAGES When replying to messages, place your response at the top of the message. If the response is mixed in the reply, then mention this fact at the top of the replied message. VIRUS WARNINGS AND ADVERTS OF ANY TYPE: Do not, I repeat do not post virus warnings or adverts to the jfw list. 99.9 percent of the time Virus Warnings are a Hokes and waists every ones time and, it is off topic. People can go somewhere else to look for virus information. This list isnt a forum for adverts of any kind. Only permitted advertisement is official media releases or product updates notifications from Freedom Scientific. Anything else is regarded as Off Topic. SPAM MAIL Any person caught sending spam messages on this mail list will automatically be banned for life and your ISP will be notified of your action. There will be no recourse, if this rule is broken. ILLEGAL ACTIVITY This list adheres to a strict policy of legality. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: Illegal distribution of JAWS or any other program Illegal authorization of JAWS, including discussion of how and where this can be done The use of hacked or unreleased versions of JAWS Any other activity not permitted under law How this is dealt with is dependent on how the moderator views the intentions of the rule violater. Action will take the form of, at minimum, a warning, or at maximum, expulsion from the list and notification of Freedom Scientific and/or the authorities. OFFENSIVE MESSAGES Members who send offensive messages like pornographic, contain offensive text (such as sware words), or messages that might breach international law, will be banned for life and your ISP will be notified. There will be no recourse, if this rule is broken. FLAMING Flaming of any description is not permitted on this list. If you have the urge to flame someone, then do it privately. Action by the moderators will be taken against those people who insist on using this list as a vehicle for displaying their aggression, anger, or frustration via FLAMES. MEMBER INFORMATION REMEMBER, a mail list allows hundreds upon hundreds of people from all sorts of backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, and different level of knowledge. These rules are trying to provide a level laying field for all. When you send a message, take notice of the rules above before sending a message. The moderators on this list are giving up their free time to monitor the list. We arent being paid to run this list. The pleasure that we get from running the list, is seeing other people sharing information between each other. Please help us out by following the rules above. The moderators have very limited control on blocking unwanted messages or messages that you feel are abusive, offensive, or off topic. We rely on each member to follow the above rules. The only recourse that a moderator has is to block you from posting (sending) messages or banning your email address from the list. -- To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. If you have any concerns about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run, do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx