Greetings to new and old subscribers to CLICK4HP! As it has been over a year since the list administrators posted a tips and guides message to the list, it is a good opportunity to share these netiquette suggestions from almost 15 years of the CLICK4HP listserv. Below find a re-posting of a message from the list administrators in December 2002. Eight years later we have the same suggestions to offer. -------------------- The CLICK4HP health promotion on the internet listserv was started in April 1996 as a public discussion on the nature of the broad field of health promotion, and the uses of the Internet for communication, research, promotion and collaboration. By 'health promotion' we are referring to the many different perspectives of health promotion that exist around the world. This is an open forum on the field, including healthy lifestyles, wellness, illness prevention and rehabilitation, foundations and values, settings and strategies and the myriad of determinants of health. As always, there is a diversity of opinions about the breadth and the strategies of health promotion. We wish to encourage *all* perspectives in a welcoming discussion and exchange. Please be considerate of the hundreds of CLICK4HP subscribers who have been exploring all aspects of health promotion here for more than 14 years. To repeat a comment from the Apolnet-listserv "we encourage a thoughtful and well-rounded exchange of knowledge and opinion, and hope that, with your help, we will be able to sustain a climate of tolerance, reflection and learning." For the benefit of new subscribers to this list, we are re-posting the working guidelines for posting to this list. If you have questions or concerns - please contact the list-facilitators at [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] ****************************************** Working Guidelines for Posting to Click4hp *Minimum Standards of Respect and Personal Conduct* Demonstrate respect for the ideas of others in your replies even if you do not agree. Debate and discussion are welcome and encouraged. Do not send email when angry or upset. When attempting humour or sarcasm always clearly indicate this with the use of an emoticon such as :-) or ;-) commonly referred to as smilies. Use uppercase text sparingly. Many readers consider capital letters as the equivalent of shouting online. The use of spacing or asterisks like *this* is another way to indicate emphasis. *Give Your Postings a Title* When you write or reply to a message check the subject line to ensure it reflects the content of the message. Edit it if necessary. *Replying to Messages* When replying to a posting, quote only the text required to put your reply in context. It helps to cut-and-paste quotes into new messages. Try to edit out needless lines in replies and forwarded material. If you have to scroll down a whole screen to get to where your response begins you have probably quoted too much. IMPORTANT! Check to ensure you have removed the header from the message you are replying to. Failing to delete the TO: line in the message you are quoting may mean your message will not be posted. The mailing list software catches these headers as a precaution against mail loops. Before you hit REPLY be sure to check the TO: line. You may not want your private message read by the whole list. If you do not know the e-mail address of the person you wish to reach, you can review the list of subscribers to the list by sending an e-mail message to the list-serv [<[log in to unmask]>], leaving the subject line *blank*, and in the message body type in Review CLICK4HP. A list of current non-concealed subscribers will be sent to you soon after you send that message. You should not repost private email to the list without permission. * Do Not Use Attachments* Please - do NOT send attachments to this listserv or to any other. As attachments create difficulties for many subscribers, in downloading time, potential for viruses in attachments, incompatibility of word-processing systems and blocks by many IT systems on attachments, it is the policy of this listserv to **block all attachments**. Take the time to copy and paste the text from attachments into the body of messages. Your messages will go further and be distributed, and it will be appreciated! *Identify Yourself* Please sign your messages at the end with your name and email address. Some email software fails to capture the sender's name from the header, making it impossible to follow up, off the list, by email. *Keeping your Messages Readable* Keep messages short - two or three screens of information - and 'point' to sources of further information (yourself, web pages, etc.). Use 'white space' in your message to improve readability. Use lists and line breaks to space out the information and improve readability online. *Avoid Word-Wrap* When using wordprocessor software, compose with a non-proportional (fixed) 10 pitch font. Proportional fonts crowd more characters on a standard line and cause word-wrap (full lines followed by line fragments) when posted. When in doubt check attachments in a DOS/ASCII editor or first email them to yourself, as a test. Advertising Products/Services: Posting advertisements for commercial health related products or services on Click4hp is discouraged. List participants are welcome to mention services/resources relevant to furthering health promotion work in the context of a discussion underway on Click4hp and invite inquiries directly by email. Please refrain from including pricing or ordering material. When in doubt, please forward your posting in advance to one of the list facilitators for review prior to posting. *************************************************************** One final thought: As more of us do online health promotion work new participants will join and need opportunities to learn and become oriented in the online workspace. CLICK4HP's online facilitators are here to provide assistance and orientation, and to animate discussion and debate. When in doubt you can always contact us for advice, or with suggestions. To reach us, just send your email to <[log in to unmask]>. To manage subscriptions/passwords, or view archives, go to http://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/click4hp.html . [log in to unmask] is run in collaboration with Health Nexus: http://www.healthnexus.ca/index_eng.php