Will of the Members
From NANOG
Contents |
NANOG Mailing List Operations
As professionals we should all know how to act. Occasionally, people test positive for off-topic. There are no rules on the NANOG Mailing List, only community based consensus stanards.
Who runs the list
The community does, and the MLC gauges consensus for their actions through the NANOG community meeting and postings on NANOG Futures.
Who can be on the list?
Anyone.
Who can post to the list?
Anyone.
Who can be banned from the list?
Anyone.
Etiquette for Posting to the NANOG Mailing List
- When forwarding other's work, provide a working URL to the original content or the original author's name. Credibility is an important factor in posting. Omission is not only annoying, but dishonest. Most can spot it a mile away. It hurts you, the poster, and the community at large since it takes away from the group credibility.
- Off topic posting
- Top posting
- Avoid flaming when possible
- Engage in "Community Policing" i.e. when you see a post that you think is off topic, say something to the author directly. Every comment counts.
Standard: Community Consensus will guide etiquette. Etiquette consensus will be discussed and polled during each NANOG meeting, during the Community Meeting.
Just what the heck is on topic on the NANOG list anyhow?
Generally, all network operations is on topic. The content will vary by the subject matter experts and others in residence. It's ok to ask a dumb question. It's also ok to make an intelligent post. It's not ok to post off topic.
It's easy to demonstrate what the list is not?
- Can someone from XYZ Network contact me off list?
- Deloitte says net will die in 3 days!!
- I heard a rumor that...
- Let's start a multiply group on myspace and use Orkut! YAY!
- Paging XYZ hostmaster! LOL! LOL!
- Time to think up a new AUP!
- Unhappiness with FCC radio spectrum documentation
Standard: If it can't be a topic at a NANOG meeting, it isn't a topic on the NANOG Mailing List.
Community Policing of The List
We are all masters of the NANOG list and that requires participation. With that participation comes responsibility. Complaining to the Mailing List Committee can be useful, but in the interest of community, complaining directly to the offender may have more and longer lasting impact. Peer pressure in groups is often more effective than individual scolding.
The Basics
- Be courteous, emphatic, and sensible.
- Explain why you believe the post is disruptive to the community
- Offer an alternative, such as NSP-SEC, SPAM-L, or some other list that may be a far better venue for the post. Not all posts are junk.
- End on a friendly note
If repeated violations occur, the MLC will likely notice, but you should feel free to let them know what you think since they are here to assist the community in running an interesting, and relevant, mailing list.
Standard: Only members of the list will contact other posters and decry their off topicness. Adminstrators will field complaints and gauge the will of the members. All actions will be reviewed at a NANOG meeeting, during the Community Meeting, and consensus for those actions will be sought. If consensus is not reached, the action will be immediately reversed.
Community Input
This wiki is a community effort and as such, the MLC is encouraged to gauge support and carry out the will of the members based on efforts like this. Everyone should feel free to participate in this in the spirit of a Wiki, including the MLC, and the SC.
Standard: Members are expected to participate. If they don't, the MLC should proceed in what it perceives as the will of the members. Mailing List Committee activities will be presented at each NANOG meeting, during the Community Meeting.
