| From: | "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | ADMIN: Format right or get nuked (READ THIS!!!) |
| Date: | Fri, 25 Jun 1993 15:18:32 -0500 |
ShadowTalk postings and inform person who posted with incorrect formats
that they did that. The script has worked on and off and has more bugs
than a bait store (even once responding to a post in SHADOWRN because it
wasn't checking the FROM headers correctly).
Well, considering that over 30% of the posts made to ShadowTalk are
formatted incorrectly. It has become far too difficult to code every
possible incorrect format in the auto-checker. So I've stopped the auto
checker.
Now, if you want me to, you can call me an asshole, it won't be the first
time, but based on repeated attempts to express the importance of correct
formatting, and the fact that people are starting to complain, I am now
going to implement a policy of one warning followed by deleting the
offending user. I _will_ allow the user to resubscribe, but they will be
forced to go through the hassle of resubscribing.
Jason, I am posting the complain you sent me in order to show everyone
that their mispostings are getting annoying. If any of you send flames to
Jason, I will nuke you, period. If you wanna flame someone, flame me!
--<INCLUSION>--
On Fri, 25 Jun 1993 CARTER@***.EDU wrote:
> So tell me Rob, when are you going to crack down on all the fools who seem
> to be ignoring the posting format rules?
>
> Jason (is slightly annoyed)
> The Nightstalker
--<END INCLUSION>--
Alright, it's now time for POSTING 101. This is a 1 credit class that is
taken on a pass/fail basis. In this class you will learn the correct
format for posting to ShadowTalk.
Here is a copy of the guidelines from the FAQ:
--<INCLUSION>--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
5. 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:
***** Encrypt: key-designation (optional)
>>>>>[Text to be discussed]<<<<<
-- ID < Time / Date >
Where:
Encrypt= Some postings to the ShadowTalk storyline need 'encrypting'.
Encrypted posts are usually of a nature that person's outside
of the ShadowTalk list would be unable to see it without the
correct counter-key. This has no real-world significance but
can serve to enhance the mystery and storyline.
>>>>>[ = 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 one TAB, two dashes (--), and two spaces.
Time = The time of the post in 24hr format (ie, 23:45:16)
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 2054 during 1993)
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.
NOTE: There are some industrious "deckers" that alter the
time-date stamp into saying something else. While this can be fun,
it can hamper attempts to port the messages to a log file in the
correct order.
[...]
--<END INCLUSION>--
Have you read all of that? Now, go read it again.
All done? Good.
Let's go through this line by line.
=====
***** Encrypt: key-designation (optional)
=====
Encryptions begin with five asterisks and a space, followed by the word
'Encrypt:' and a key. The key doesn't have to be anything major. A
single word or short phrase is enough.
======
>>>>>[Text to be discussed]<<<<<
======
Ok, take a look at the number of greater-than and less-than symbols that
are there. That number is five (5). There are also brackets there. Not
'|', or '(' or even ':'. The text within the markers is usually
unimportant, but it should be neat and easy to read. Internal 'encrypt'
and 'decrypt' things just make for cumbersome reading.
======
-- ID < Time / Date >
=====
Alright, this is the part that most people screw up. Start your tag with
a TAB (it's the key over by the 'Q' on a QWERTY keyboard). After the TAB,
press '-' two times, then <space> twice. Next your type in your
character's name. After your name is a less-than, the time in HH:MM:SS
format <24 hour format also>, a slash, and the date in MM-DD-YY format.
Follow the date with a greater-than sign. If you have a non-standard
tagline, replace the time and date between the less than and greater-than
signs.
=====
=====
Let's have a test posting. See if you can see how many things are wrong
with the following posting
**** Encrypt: for-billy-bob's-mcp-only
>>>>>|Hey, your sister is really cute!]>>>>>
----HillBilly <A redneck from the
southland> <3:42:10 pm / June 25>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry if I sound snarely or something, but ever time i try to write up
some kind of auto-editor, the thing gets screwed up by some kind of
invalid format. Plus it is beginning to annoy others also. I'm going to
warn you once and then delete you, there is nothing else that can be done.
If you have questions or comments or complaints or flames, send them to
me. I'll probably ignore flame, though.
Thanks for your time, above all, try to have fun.
[> Robert Hayden ____ <] Black Holes result from God
[> \ /__ <] dividing the universe by zero.
[> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu \/ / <]
[> aq650@****.INS.CWRU.Edu \/ <] # include std_disclaimer.h
--
(GEEK CODE 0.3): GSS d- p--/-p+ c++ l++ m+/* s-/++ g+ w++ t++ r++ x+
[finger my Krypton account for a copy of the Geek Code]
