[plug] Newcomers' welcome (revised)

[Kev]

James

I reckon this is pretty good.  On first reading I can't really come up 
with anything to add (or change for that matter).

Kev

James Devenish wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> Here is the second public draft of a newcomers' "welcome message".
> This would be sent automatically to each new subscriber when he
> or she joins the list. I welcome your revisions, and you should
> probably post them to the list so that others can gauge their
> feelings. When providing amendments to the message, please be
> sure to quote clearly (or "bottom-post") to make it practical for
> us to merge your suggestions.
> 
> ________________________________________________________________
> 
> Welcome to the discussion list of the Perth Linux Users' Group
> (Australia). If you are new to this community, we recommend you
> read the remainder of this e-mail which has been prepared for your
> benefit. Once you have read this message, you can immediately send
> your own queries by e-mail to
> 	plug at plug.linux.org.au
> For additional information about the list, including ways to
> find answers to questions that have already been asked, visit
> 	http://www.plug.linux.org.au/resources/mailing-list
> 
> If you are new to Linux and are asking a question for the first
> time, you may wish to introduce yourself and indicate your level
> of (or lack of) familiarity with Linux-based computing. Your
> question will be read by anyone else who is currently reading the
> list, and it is likely that someone will respond with an answer.
> However, please keep in mind that it's "luck of the draw" who will
> read and respond to your message. It is also important for you to
> "help us to help you" and that you write for the benefit of being
> read.
> 
> To improve our ability to help you, there are several guidelines
> for this list. These are all quite common compared with other
> lists, but could seem daunting if you have not subscribed before.
> We do not mind if you "break a few rules" when you are new, but
> please don't be offended if you are asked to try to comply. Also,
> please do not be offended if you don't receive a prompt reply to
> every question: some subscribers only read their e-mail during
> evenings or weekends and cannot read or respond to every message.
> 
> The following guidelines can also be viewed and bookmarked at
> our website if you wish to delete this e-mail:
> 	http://www.plug.linux.org.au/resources/mailing-list#guidelines
> 
> ________________________________________________________________
> PLUG MAILING LIST GUIDELINES
> Last revised February 2005.
> 
> 1/ If you have a question, try to provide us with information
> (take a guess!) so that we know what sort of computer you have
> and what you have already attempted (if anything). Remember, we
> are "strangers" and we can't guess what will be compatible with
> your computer if you don't tell us what you already have. Also,
> we *do* need to know if you have already had specific trouble.
> In particular, let us know about any "errors message" you have
> received.
> 
> 	For example: if you wanted to know "how to use your CD
> 	burner", you need to let us know a few salient details. You
> 	might say "someone installed Mandrake 10 on my computer and
> 	I have a Sony disc burner, model ABC-123. I think I'm using
> 	GNOME but I don't know what the CD software is called". We
> 	would not need know other details like your graphics rating
> 	or screen size.
> 
> 2/ If you have had your computer at a PLUG workshop or have been
> referred via some other organisation (e.g. Computer Angels), it
> is probably worth mentioning it.
> 
> 3/ If you are writing a new e-mail (and not replying to an old
> one), compose a fresh e-mail with a helpful "Subject". This is
> so that people can see the new topic and not confuse it with
> other messages. Do not use "Reply" if you are starting a new
> topic: this could cause your message to get "linked"
> automatically to unrelated messages.
> 
> 4/ Always write for the benefit of being read. Try to be
> considerate by writing good sentences with correct spelling so
> that people can search your message for keywords. Remember that
> e-mail is sometimes tricky to understand and it is not the same
> as talking face-to-face.
> 
> 5/ If you are replying to someone's post, please take care. If
> you answer has lasting communal value, please send it to the list
> (rather than directly to the other sender). This is what normally
> happens when you reply to this list: so be careful if you are
> typing something of a personal nature! Also, you should clearly
> indicate which part of a message you are replying to. Try to
> "quote" carefully by trimming out irrelevant paragraphs and
> writing your response directly below the context of the original
> message.
> 
> 6/ If you make use of the advice received on this list, reply
> to it and tell us whether it worked or didn't work. This helps
> anyone else who has the problem in future.
> 
> 7/ If you are providing an answer to someone else's question, try
> to indicate whether you "know" you are right, or whether you are
> just guessing. It is okay to guess, and we do not discourage
> tentative suggestions, but be sure they are labelled that way.
> Do not send a reply merely for its own sake.
> 
> 8/ Many questions have been asked in the past, or might be beyond
> our local experience. The Internet has many resources available,
> and it is often wise to do some "pre-reading" by searching the
> PLUG archives or the world-wide-web in general.
> 
> 9/ If you know how, please avoid sending HTML ("rich text")
> messages to the list (use plain text instead). Do not send
> graphical attachments or software! If you are having difficulty
> on the command-line, try to copy-and-paste the relevant details
> into your post. If you have "log files", you may wish to attach
> *short and relevant excerpts* to your e-mail. (If you try to
> copy-and-paste large amounts of text, the lines get broken up
> and we have to ask you to re-send.)
> 
> 10/ The PLUG list is made up of people ranging from beginners to
> professional experts. Some are very new to the list while others
> have been here for years. This diversity can sometimes seem
> intimidating, but there are usually other people who come from
> the same perspective as yourself. Nevertheless, remember that
> most replies are "getting down to business" and may be brief
> in their opinions -- this should not be mistaken as a personal
> insult.
> 
> 11/ As a service to ourselves and future Linux users, all the
> list's messages are archived publicly. A consequence of this is
> that our resources, including all the comments that you write
> yourself, can potentially be found and read by anyone else using
> the Internet.
> 
> 12/ If you experience technical difficulties with the list (e.g.
> you can't see your own messages or can't receive other people's
> replies), you can check the web-based archives or e-mail the list
> administrators for technical validation of the list. Addresses
> for the list, the list administrators, the web archives, and the
> PLUG committee and shown at the bottom of each message you receive
> via the list.
> ________________________________________________________________
> 
> _______________________________________________
> PLUG discussion list: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> http://spark.plug.linux.org.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/plug
> Committee e-mail: committee at plug.linux.org.au
> 
> 
>