This material is extracted from a note posted on the UUCF listserver by Donald L. Martell on 13 June 1998, and is unmodified except as follows:
We have been informed that "NOEC" means "News and Online Editorial Committee".
The posting of this note does not imply our agreement with it.
The uucf-list has been replaced by two new lists: uucf-info and uucf-chat. Please read the descriptions below and readdress your message to the appropriate list. Note also the netiquette policy. All of the subscribers to the uucf-list as of June 13, 1998 have been put on both lists. If you wish to leave on of the lists
The UUCF-info list is intended to be an avenue to communicate church activities and events to Members and Friends of UUCF. This may include such topics as: committee meeting minutes; volunteer needs; social gatherings; life-span education opportunities; births, weddings, ill health, anniversaries, deaths and other similar announcements about Members, Friends and Staff which would be of interest to the UUCF community; and more. All postings shall be in keeping with the Netiquette guidelines.
The UUCF-chat list is intended to be a forum for discussion pertaining to or of interest to the Members and Friends of UUCF. This may include such topics as: sharing opinions on the impact of growth at UUCF; sharing ideas that might expand our spiritual horizons; discussing the pros and cons of constructing new space on UUCF grounds; possible social justice action that might be taken to support a cause of interest to UUCF; sharing significant book titles, software, movies, and other resources; and more. All postings shall be in keeping with the Netiquette guidelines.
E-mail postings shall be limited to subscribing Members and Friends of UUCF. Sub-scribers may forward to the appropriate UUCF list any individual postings they receive from groups of interest to the UUCF community, such as UUA, JPD and others. Postings may be made at will, without prior screening or censorship. However, all subscribers must abide by our UU Principles and Netiquette guidelines for proper online behavior.
Those Members and Friends who flagrantly disregard these guidelines may be warned by fellow subscribers (who can best monitor themselves), and may be asked by the listmaster to discontinue such behavior. If such behavior does continue, the subscriber will be referred to the NOEC. The NOEC will evaluate the subscriber's postings for infringements of the principles and netiquette behavior as outlined, and will make recommendations to the Board for final action, which may include removal from the list, either temporarily or permanently.
Although some subscribers may feel suspension from a free and open electronic mail community should never occur, flagrant violation of these guidelines would result in harm to individual subscribers which is unfair and unwarrented in a loving religious community. Threats, abuse of an individual's right of privacy, and other forms of disrespect will not be tolerated online just as they are not tolerated elsewhere in the UUCF community.
As our UU Principles are broad, the following netiquette guidelines should more specifically help our online communications:
Postings sent to all subscribers of any list are considered public. Postings sent to individuals on any list are considered private, and may be posted only to the larger list membership with the express approval of the person sending the private message. Private postings that are made public without permission are considered a violation of an individual's rights and are in direct opposition to our UU principles. It is advised that all messages sent privately, state PRIVATE in the subject line of the e-mail.
Be considerate and caring in your search for understanding, when expressing your opinions, or persuading the merits of your opinion to others. Excessive use of foul language and hostile threats, intimidation, accusations, or harassment of any kind against Members, Friends or Staff of UUCF will not be tolerated. If you are in doubt about whether a message you wish to send is disrespectful or not, it is advised you wait 24 hours, then reread your message. You might better answer your doubts when time has lapsed and you read it fresh, or you may discover a better way to phrase yourself that is more respectful of the intended receiver(s).
The printed Newsletter has a policy of not including personal ads due to lack of space. The lists are not limited in this way. However, a few subscribers object to ads sent out on the lists, particularly since many subscribers receive their e-mail at their office. Currently, there is no restriction to posting ads. As a courtesy, it is advised that any ads sent out should state ADVERTISEMENT or AD in the subject line of the e-mail to allow subscribers to choose whether to read or delete the post. It is suggested that further discussion among subscribers take place before changing this current guideline.
Rumors, false-hoods, second-hand information, chain letters, virus alerts, commercial advertisements, copyrighted material, screams of "Fire!" and other similar content should not be sent out on the list. More harm than good becomes of it.
If a subscriber is found to be in violation of our Netiquette guidelines and is removed from the list (whether permanently or temporaily), that list's subscribers will be notified. The suspended subscriber may send messages to the listmaster (or member of the NOEC) for screening and forwarding to the list. After a period of time (to be determined by the Board at the recommendation of the NOEC), the suspended subscriber may be returned to active list participation. Anyone who knowingly forwards or facilitates a suspended subscriber's postings to the list, is also in violation of the Netiquette guidelines. It is hoped that subscribers will never need to be removed from the list, making these concerns and provisions unnecessary.