| From: | NIGHTFOX <DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Admin: Posting Formats |
| Date: | Sat, 22 Jul 1995 18:16:42 -0700 |
so here is the posting format once more - read through this and find out what
you are doing incorrectly. Even if you think you are doing it correctly, please
check.
-------- Man, do I love cut and post!
3: GUIDELINES FOR POSTING
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A. Formatting Guidelines and Justifications
1. Why Format Correctly?
Proper formatting of messages to Shadowtk is important for
several reasons. First of all it helps sustain the illusion
of a Shadowrun BBS. Secondly, it allow for ease of reading
for your fellow list members. Lastly, it makes it easier for
the listowner and all other people who are keeping logs to
format them in a consistant manner.
2. What are encrypts, and how do I use them?
Encrypted messages are used to allow a message to be either
read only by certain characters or to prevent them from being
read by particular characters. Encrypts are used to enhance
the development of storylines and should be used sparingly.
The first type of encryption is the "Private" message.
Following the keyword "PRIVATE" the names of the characters
the message was sent to are listed. Only these characters are
aware of the messages existance. It is very poor etiquette to
have any other characters respond to such a message.
The second type of encryption is the "Barring" message.
Following the keywords "NOT TO" the names of the characters
that the writer does not want to recieve the message are
listed. Once again, it is very poor etiqutte to have a
character respond to a message he has been barred from.
A secondary use of encrypts is to allow the author to
neglect to specify an otherwise meaningless detail. Encrypts
of this nature are placed inside a message and appear in a
format similar to "Meet me at >>Encrypted<< in two
hours."
3. "Dramatics"
Many times, a posting will be made that has what are
termed "Dramatics" in them. Often times, this will be
downloading of a program, a description of a video camera
shot, a virus attacking the poster, or some such. To
properly set these events off, one will utilize five '+'
symbols. For Example:
+++++ Download: bad_guy.picture
or
+++++ Video: You see at big monkey climbing a
skyscraper while little airplanes annoy him.
4. ID and Time/Date Stamp
All message must have an ID and a time/date Stamp at the
end of the message. This includes messages that are disrupted
during sending since ID and Time/Date are determined before
the posting character starts his message. Leaving the ID and
Time/Date Stamp off of a post is very confusing and should
never be done. Repeated offenders will be notified that
they are violating the posting format and that they will be
removed from the list if they continue to do so.
**********
B. What is the posting format?
The best guideline for posting format can be found in the FASA
rulebooks, but in summary, a post should be made as follows:
Standard Style:
***** (Key Word): Name List (optional)
>>>>>[Text to be discussed]<<<<<
-- ID < Time / Date >
Corporate Style:
***** (Key Word): Name List (optional)
>>>>>[Text to be discussed]<<<<<
-- ID < Time / Date >
Position
Corporation
Where:
(Key Word) = This refers to the key words for the two styles of post
encryption, those being "PRIVATE" and "NOT TO".
Name List = This is a list of names of personnas that the encryption is
keyed to. For private messages, it is a list of those who
are able to read the post. For barring messages, it is the
list of people who cannot read the message.
>>>>>[ = All postings should start with five (5) greater-than symbols
followed by an opening bracket.
]<<<<< = All postings should end with a closing bracket followed by
five (5) less than symbols.
ID = Your fictional LTG identification. This ID should be
preceeded by eight spaces, two dashes (--), and two spaces.
Time = The time of the post in 24hr format (ie, hh:mm:ss)
I've found it personally convienient to simply use the
current real-world time. There has been some discussion
regarding using a universal time (example, everyone posts
using GMT or Seattle time). It has been decided that it is too
much of a pain to try to recalculate posting time. If you do
with is use a universal time, use GMT.
Date = The Shadowrun Date. In order to keep things in order,
use the current month and day, and for the year, take
the current year and add 61 to it (Shadowrun takes
place in 2055 during 1994). Date is posted in MM-DD-YY format.
Position = The position possessed by the individual in his corporation
(President, CEO, Executive Assistant). This style of posting is
used only by corporate-types, since no self respecting runner or
neoanarchist would use something that corps do.
Corporation= Name of the Coroporation to which the individual is affilated.
NOTE: There are some industrious "deckers" that alter the
time-date stamp into saying something else. While this can be fun,
it is generally accepted that only VERY expert deckers can do this,
not listmembers who are too lazy to check the date and time for
a message. It is /not/ a trivial task to change, and even for
the most expert decker, in most cases, is usually not considered
worth the effort to do so.
OTHER EDITING INSTRUCTIONS:
All postings should be made flush-left. Do not TAB in new paragraphs.
Do not use TABs for formatting purposes (use spaces).
At the end of a paragraph, press return twice and start the next
paragraph flush-left.
If there are multiple messages in one posting, put only one blank
line between them.
Do not hypenate words. If a word is longer than the line, start
the word on the NEXT line.
Signature Files:
As a general rule, it is unnescessary to include a signature file
for SHADOWTK postings, as your entries will have your "ID" to
identify you. Most mailers are able to resolve return
addresses. Thus, this practice is highly frowned upon.
Quoting Previous Postings:
This is also highly frowned upon, mostly because of the difficulty
in creating a log file. Discussion should occur rapidly enough
that quoting of will be unecessary. If you feel that you need to
address specific points, please try to simply address them without
wasting bandwidth with unecessary quoting. Use the text of the
posting to refresh everyone's memory if you can.
Subject Line:
Please note that subject lines WILL NOT be present in the edited
log, so if you have a subject line that is important to the
meaning of message, it will become confusing.
Flaming:
Isn't very nice, period. If it gets too bad, you will be deleted from
the list.
Nightfox -- ShadowTK Log Editor
DJWA@******.UCC.NAU.EDU - Daniel Waisley HTTP://DANA.UCC.NAU.EDU/~DJW2/
- Insanity is such a delightful state of mind.
BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!BOINGEE!!!
Geek code V2.1 GE d-? H++ s+:->++: g+ p? !au(-) a21! w++ v+* C++$(++++)
U(-) p? L !3 E? N K- W M+ V+ -po+(---) Y+ t+ 5+++! j-x R+(++) G' tv
b+(+++) D(+) B--- e+ u+*(++)(**) h(*) f+(*) r-->+++ !n- y+*>++
