Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!uunet!algor2.algorists.com!jeffrey
From: jeffrey@algor2.algorists.com (Jeffrey Kegler)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Two Points of Netiquette
Message-ID: <1989Sep6.015314.16485@algor2.algorists.com>
Date: 6 Sep 89 01:53:14 GMT
Reply-To: jeffrey@algor2.algorists.com (Jeffrey Kegler)
Organization: Algorists, Inc.
Lines: 35

As a point of netiquette, everyone should bear in mind that given some
sort of personal attack, or an attack on a business, the attacked
party will almost inevitably reply, and the result will not be good
for the sound to noise ratio.  Also, we do want to encourage "movers
and shakers" to participate on the net, and if they get the idea they
are subjecting themselves to broadly and loosely worded attacks on
their business (or personal) reputation in front of an influential
audience, they will decide silence is the best policy.

There are two ways of joining a debate.

Method A: "When you published X in your magazine, it raised great
questions in my mind about its policies and general quality."

Method B: "Article X is typical of why your magazine is a rag."

I do not question the right of someone to start this debate, but using
Method A makes life easier for all of us.

As a second point of netiquette, if you want to raise a point in a
newsgroup with someone influential you have seen posting to an group
inappropriate to the point, do the following.  First, Email him the
posting, letting him know to what group(s) you will be posting.
Second, post to the promised and appropriate groups, noting in the
posting that a copy has been Emailed to that party.

You might also consider using Email and awaiting that person's reply,
in case he has a ready, satisfactory answer, or your point might not
be of that great general interest.  This will almost always be the
right thing to do first.
-- 

Jeffrey Kegler, Independent UNIX Consultant, Algorists, Inc.
jeffrey@algor2.ALGORISTS.COM or uunet!algor2!jeffrey
1762 Wainwright DR, Reston VA 22090