::fibreculture:: posting guidelines

[Ingrid Richardson]

Dear list
 
In recent weeks there has been a considerable increase in the number of postings to the list that contain cfp or other info of a similar nature.  These sort of postings should be posted to the annoucements list - **the url is at the bottom of all postings to fc**, and about 1/3 of subscribers are not on that list.
 
The facilitator's (facs) group highly recommend that all cfp's, lecture/conference announcements, journal/book annoucements, exhibition announcements, job positions etc etc be posted to the annoucements list and not the fc list, which is designed for discussion.
 
Since there are some new subscribers to the list, pasted below is a set of posting guidelines that provide further info on posting, and where to post.
 
This information can also be found on the "about" link of the fc site: http://www.fibreculture.org/about.html
 
Ingrid, on behalf of facs.
 
 
 
 
Fibreculture Posting Guidelines
http://www.fibreculture.org/about.html
 
 
==> Posting to the list <==
 
We hope that new listmembers will contribute to the discussion and information sharing which occurs on the list. Don't be shy! There are a range of different topics and modes of discussion on ::fibreculture:: - Internet theory, aesthetics, media research, public policy, popular culture, new media education, net activism. If you find a discussion that interests you, jump in! Or if you have other information or opinions which you think will interest the ::fibreculture:: network, feel free to start a new thread.
 
 
==> Posting Guidelines <==
 
1> A good post provides a point of view which encourages other listmembers to respond. Most of all, posts should be interesting to read in some way even outside the context of a discussion thread. "Would I forward my post to someone outside of :fibreculture:?" is a good question to ask before sending it to the list.
 
 
If you want to
 
     i)   clarify your position ("I didn't mean that, I meant this"),
     ii)  express agreement/disagreement ("I agree with X, but not Y"), 
or
     iii) correct minor factual detail ("Actually, that show was at AGNSW,
          not the MCA")
 
without extending the discussion, consider replying to the original sender off-list. The size and diversity of :fibreculture: makes it unsuited to conversational exchanges. If your off-list dialogue turns into something new, you can always post a summary back to the list.
 
 
2> A good post highlights *your* perspective. If you want to forward an article by someone else or a URL which may be of interest to the list, take some time to set some starting points for discussion. Why do you find this interesting? What are the likely implications for :fibreculture: members? 
If you just want to provide an informational post about an upcoming event or a resource which may be of interest, send it to fibreculture-announce.
 
 
3> A good post shows respect. There are real people on the other end of list messages. If you're disagreeing with someone's argument, remember to acknowledge parts you do agree with. If someone's post offends you, sit on it for a day before hitting reply.
 
 
4> A good post is generous. Concentrate on being supportive and expansive. Open conversations up rather than shut them down. You get out of :fibreculture: what you put in. Spend some time engaging with people on list, and you'll find them much more likely to do the same when you start new conversations.
 
 
5> A good post is in the established :fibreculture: styles - opinion pieces, journalistic articles, discussion questions, essays, short academic papers, reviews - and of course responses to these posts. While the :fibreculture: facilitators value other forms of writing (such as fiction, or theses), we believe that there are other lists which are probably better suited for them. E-mail a facilitator if you're not sure.
 
 
6> The following kinds of posts are not suited for :fibreculture:
 
* Announcements (send to fibreculture-announce)
* Flames
* Unannotated URLs/forwarded articles
* Fiction
* Long (>5000 wd) academic papers / thesis chapters
* Text-art
* One-liners (unless *really* funny or insightful)
* Promotional material
 
 
:fibreculture: is almost always an unmoderated list (except when facilitators agree that a series of postings is affecting the culture 
of the list), so we rely on subscribers following these guidelines to keep the list dynamic and active. The facilitators may send reminders to anyone not following the guidelines. Posters who repeatedly ignore these guidelines and reminders may be removed from the list.
 
 
7> Most of all, enjoy yourself! The :fibreculture: list has been a fantastic forum for the exchange of ideas, and it continues to grow in size and diversity. But it can only do so while new members come in and contribute.
 
 
The facilitators are here to help, so feel free to ask them any questions.
 
 
Fibreculture Facilitators are:
 
Hugh Brown (Brisbane) hmusic at ozemail.com.au
Axel Bruns (Brisbane) snurb at snurb.info
Chris Chesher (Sydney) chris.chesher at arts.usyd.edu.au 
Gillian Fuller (Sydney) g.fuller@@unsw.edu.au
Gerard Goggin (Brisbane/Sydney) g.goggin at uq.edu.au
Lisa Gye (Melbourne) lgye at groupwise.swin.edu.au
Geert Lovink (Amsterdam) geert at xs4all.nl
Esther Milne (Melbourne) EMilne at groupwise.swin.edu.au
Adrian Miles (Melbourne) adrian.miles at rmit.edu.au
Anna Munster (Sydney) A.Munster at unsw.edu.au
Andrew Murphie (Editor - Fibreculture Journal) a.murphie at unsw.edu.au
Ingrid Richardson (Perth) i.richardson at murdoch.edu.au
Ned Rossiter (Northern Ireland) n.rossiter at ulster.ac.uk
David Teh (Sydney) dteh at arthist.usyd.edu.au