GTHEALL@PENNDRLS.UPENN.EDU (George A. Theall) (01/15/90)
As a result of private discussions with several people in these forums, I will soon begin to limit messages gatewayed from the Rainbow Echo on FidoNet to INFO-DEC-MICRO/comp.sys.dec.micro on BITNET/Internet/USENET and vice versa. I find the need to do this regrettable, but the need exists nonetheless. The following guidelines have been developed to determine which messages are "acceptable". First, messages should relate in some fashion to DEC Rainbow computers or, at a minimum, to DEC's line of personal computers (Robin, DECMate, PRO, etc...). For example, expressions of sociability, chain letters, requests for files from the INFO-DEC-MICRO file archives, and the like are of limited interest to readers on other nets and will not be gatewayed. Second, messages should be non-commercial in nature. Product announcements; infrequent want-ads from individuals (not businesses); and messages which list specific products, companies, and/or prices for informative purposes are acceptable. Messages from resellers saying "I will beat any price from Newman, Midwest or any of the other 'DEC dealers'" are not. Third, messages should inform readers, not incite them. If you are angered or offended by someone's actions and feel compelled to respond in kind, you are encouraged to take the matter up *privately*, via email, snailmail, or the telephone. I will not be a conduit for libelous messages or flame wars from one net to another. Period. A few points about these guidelines are in order. Whether a message is gatewayed is an "all-or-nothing" proposition. The only editing of messages I expect to do involves removing excess blank lines and reformatting to meet limitations of mailers. Also, I will not generally inform people whose messages are not gatewayed because I have neither the time to do so nor reliable email paths to all of you. If you have questions about these guidelines or feel a message has been gatewayed improperly, please contact me privately. Refer to my .sig below for addressing information. George --- BITNET: GTHEALL@PennDRLS Dept. of Economics Internet: GTHEALL@PennDRLS.UPenn.Edu University of Pennsylvania AT+TNet: +1 215 898 3419 Philadelphia, PA 19104-3987