Daniel Spielmann wrote:

> When I subscribed to the listserv a year ago or so, I didn't have a clue about 
> what can be posted on this listserv without the sender being reprimanded.

What follows is my opinion as an EATAW member of 12 years standing. I hope Magnus, the current chair, will correct me on anything he thinks is out of line.


What to post:
========
Contrary to what some people may believe from the discussions of the last few days, EATAW members are not a short-tempered, intolerant lot. We set up a listserv to facilitate discussion and provide a bulletin board for those involved in teaching academic writing in various European languages, and we welcome contributions. 

There has been a good discussion on the meaning of the word spam and many would agree with Alex Bartel's definition -  mass e-mails of a commercial nature unconnected to academic writing. If you receive an e-mail about a writing conference in Peru and you live in Russia and can't afford to get to Peru, that is not spam, it's just not interesting. If you decide you don't want to receive any more e-mails about conferences and you post to the list saying 'unsubscribe', that is not spam either, but it is inconsiderate because you are posting to a list about academic writing a message that is not about academic writing and which will benefit no-one but you (if you are lucky). 

This last criterion is a helpful one. Before you post, ask yourself: is my post related to academic writing and might it interest others? If yes, go right ahead (assuming you have been clear, courteous and concise). If no, probably best not to post.

Good things to post:
- information about upcoming conferences on writing or other events connected to writing anywhere in the world but especially in Europe
- questions/discussions related to pedagogical practice, syllabus design etc in the field of academic writing
- questions related to research or theory in the field of writing
- questions related to the creation, development or management of writing programs, writing centres or other writing initiatives
- inquiries seeking collaboration or feedback on writing related research initiatives, workshops or presentations
- proposals for writing related collaboration or joint ventures (eg. EU funded) between institutions
- proposals to set up any other kind of writing-related initiative
- promotion of writing-related publications (within reason)

Sort of OK things to post:
- questions about how to get you (or your friend's) stuff published
- pedagogical inquiries about teaching unrelated to writing
- EAP enquiries about skills other than writing
- questions about school level writing teaching, professional or policy writing

Dodgy things you should think twice about posting:
- enquiries about English language teaching (EATAW is *not* an EFL list and many of our members teach writing in other languages - I have argued elsewhere and won't rehash here: teaching writing is not a sub-category of teaching English as a foreign language)
- enquires about English grammar (for the same reasons)
- 'me too' messages (eg. someone writes 'can I have a copy of your writing syllabus, Stefanie?' Don't post to the list saying 'me too' - write to Stefanie.)

Things you should not post:
- abuse or ad hominem attacks on other list members
- requests to be removed from the list
- offers of sexual services or products

That's my take. I encourage you all to be bold, post lots of messages in the first category, a few in the second, hardly any in the third and none ever in the last.

John


===============
John Harbord
Center for Academic Writing
Central European University
Budapest, Hungary
Tel: 00 361 327 3196