I am currently in the process of organizing an e-mail discussion list for my workplace. One of the things that has been brought up to me has been the need to create a submission guideline for the discussion group. In case you are wondering to what I am referring to, here is an example I was given via Internet:
http://www.pacificnet.net/~faigin/MLJ/submit.html
Now, since this is my first time doing this type of task, I am looking for on-line suggestiongs to submission policies or ideas as to what a submission policy should include.
Any ideas, Oh Teeming Millions?
XicanoreX
Depends on the amount of traffic the list will get and what kind of subscribers you have.
I manage a list that averages about five messages a week or so, and we have no formal submission guidelines. The audience is pretty net-savvy, so people respect the normal rules of netiquette, and we have no problems.
In any case, keep your guidelines simple, or no one will read them. (Well, hell, nobody will probably read 'em anyway.) I suggest linking to a list of the commands your listserver accepts. Advise users to keep the subject lines intact, and to trim their quotes. Mention what topics are and are not appropriate for the list.
Most important, make sure people know how to get in touch with you if they have questions or concerns. Spamming the whole list with such things is a frequent source of email list tension.
If a question or problem comes up frequently, you can add it to your guidelines.
And if anyone posts any glurge to the list, smack them silly.
This will probably get a better response in IMHO. I’ll move it over there for you.