The operation of the UTSG list has largely been defined by custom and
practice, the wishes of it's members and the views of the United Kingdom
Universities Transport Studies Groups (hence UTSG). This has given us a
set of (common-law) rules to work with. These rules include.
(1) The list is primarily for information dissemination. This does
include job adveritisements which are relevant to the members of the
list or interested parties who they might know (ie students). These
advertisements should not be used as a vehicle for telling the list as
a whole how great company XYX is, although it is reasonable to put a
SHORT piece about the background and work of the company in the posting.
(2) The list can be used for appeals for information. Please do not use
the list as the first call for information. Use resources such as a
library, the WEB or your supervisor/boss (if appropriate) first. If you
do ask for assistance, try and demomnstrate that you have already
tapped these resources and still need help. Peaople are more likely to
assist if you can demonstrate that you've already done a bit of "spade-
work". Once again appeals for information should not be a guise for a
"I'm working in this area and isn't my company wonderful, visit our
web site". (You know who you are!)
(3) UTSG is not a discussion list. Use other resources or private
emails if you want to discuss a point in detail with someone. If all
are agreed, then post a short summary of the discussion to the whole
list. If UTSG was to become a discussion list then the membership would
fall, reducing the audience for (1) and (2) above, and the adminstration
burden increase.
(4) NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER
post binary data to the list. This includes web pages, word processor
documents and executable code. Try and include the text of the message
in the body of the email. If you need to communicate binary data:
(a) Give a URL which points to the page/resource on the web;
(b) Ask people to email you individually so you can send it to
them, one to one.
(c) Send it to me and I can place it in a central location on
Mailbase for list members to access.
I know that occasionally individuals may accidently post a message as
HTML code. This is a minor infringemnet and not likely to get you
expelled, but try not to do it!
(5) If you change email addresses UNSUBSCRIBE from UTSG with the old
address and SUBSCRIBE with the new address. Do not auto-forward because
when the new address finally fails I can not easily track it back to
the old address. To leave or join, send to [log in to unmask] a
message with the body
subscribe utsg <firstname> <secondname>
or
unsubscribe utsg
Phew, I feel better for that. I hope everyone is clear about the list
now, long may the list continue in its present (relatively) harmonious
form. BTW I'm not Frank Montgomery so all spelling mistakes and typo's
are not his responsibility.
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