RULES FOR THE PASCAL ECHO - THE DETAILS (updated February 1, 2012)   
      
   The Pascal echo is an internationally distributed FidoNet echo devoted   
   to the discussion and promotion of the Pascal programming language in   
   all its variations.   
      
   MODERATOR.   
      
   The current moderator is Gert Koefoed Andersen. I can be reached by Netmail   
   at 2:230/150 or by email at gert@kofo.org - Gert_k@andersen.tdcadsl.dk.   
      
   RULES   
      
    1. Leave moderation to the moderator. Self appointed "echo policemen"   
       only waste echo space and create ill-feeling.   
      
    2. NO FLAMING. If you feel that you have been insulted in some way by   
       somebody, you have three options.   
        (a) Complain by netmail to the person concerned.   
        (b) Bring the matter to the moderator's notice - again by netmail.   
        (c) Ignore it. (the preferred option!)   
      
    3. Person-person messages that are not of general interest to other   
       users are STRICTLY not permitted. Netmail these types of messages.   
      
    4. When replying to messages try to do so "off-line" and quote some of   
       the message being replied to, but don't go overboard with quoting.   
       Quote just enough to enable the context of the reply to be fully   
       understood and in particular DO NOT INCLUDE PARTS OF THE TEAR AND   
       ORIGIN LINES.   
      
       Try reading over your reply before you commit yourself to sending   
       it.  Try to anticipate the first question readers will ask, and add   
       the answer to your message.   
      
    5. When replying to questions with code examples, test them where   
       possible by compiling and running them (or state that you have not   
       done this). If possible always quote manual references, text   
       references etc.   
      
    6. If replying to a question where you are disagreeing with the other   
       person's code or statements, support your viewpoint with working   
       code examples or valid text references. This will be more   
       productive than unsupported statements. If you are not prepared to   
       do this then don't reply in the first place!   
      
    7. Do not ENTER or REPLY TO off-topic messages. The subject matter is   
       Pascal.  Discussions on religion, politics, copyright, language   
       wars and personal messages are OFF-TOPIC.  Any subject that is   
       illegal or undesirable in a responsible conference - eg discussion   
       or tips on producing viruses or how to illegally obtain access to   
       information that the user is unauthorised to obtain, is off-topic.   
      
       Sometimes messages from other conferences become linked into   
       another conference due to faulty software. Replying to, or   
       commenting on, such messages is off-topic.   
      
       The main point is to use common sense.  Some light hearted banter   
       can relieve the formality and brighten up one's day but do not   
       carry this to the length where it becomes an extended thread.  The   
       object of the echo is to help, get help and enjoy communicating   
       with like-minded people.   
      
    8. No "thank-you" or "no content" or "rubbish" messages. Sysops spend   
       a great deal of time and money to enable the distribution of echoes   
       such as this. Please respect this and avoid messages such as "Thank   
       you. Just what I needed" or "I agree" etc. By observing this   
       etiquette you will be helping to ensure greater participation in   
       the future.  If you miss a message or code for some reason, make   
       your own private arrangements to get it. Repeated postings of code   
       are expensive and unnecessary.   
      
    9. All messages are to be in the English language and must be in PLAIN   
       TEXT.  No encoding of any kind is permissible. As the aim of the   
       conference is to help, discuss and demonstrate the Pascal language,   
       no .OBJ, .EXE or .COM files of any description are permitted   
       REGARDLESS of how they be constructed.  The echo is NOT to be   
       regarded as a file transfer or exchange channel.   
      
   10. Limited, low key, on-topic advertising is permitted, provided that   
       it is authorised by the sysop of the originating BBS and by the   
       Moderator BEFORE it is posted here.   
      
   11. When seeking assistance -   
       a)  If Turbo Pascal is your language, place the cursor on the key   
           word and call the on-line help (Ctrl-F1 in the IDE) to see if   
           the answer may be there.   
       b)  Double check the manual to see if the answer is there.   
       c)  When writing the message include enough code to allow would-be   
           helpers to have a chance to determine what the problem might   
           be. If possible condense the problem into a tiny working   
           example and post that.   
       d)  This is a high volume echo so use a subject line in the message   
           that is likely to gain attention from the experts who are often   
           too busy to read every message.  "Help wanted" or similar is a   
           good way to be ignored. Something like "Exec procedure not   
           working" is better.   
       e)  Remember that a reply of "RTFM" is not considered or meant as   
           an insult. In fact it is considered a polite (in spite of the   
           connotations) way of reminding someone that the answer they   
           seek is in the manual.   
       f)  Remember also that your reply may come from anyone, of possibly   
           unknown skill level.  Don't be too upset if misled as it is   
           probably unintentional and will almost certainly be corrected   
           by another reader.   
       g)  Many BBSs carry a file - FAQ.TXT (or similar) - which contains   
           the answers to frequently asked questions.   
       h)  Via Pascal-Net the SWAG files get distributed every 3 months.   
           Most sources placed in this area, will make it to that   
           collection. Check this file if it already has your answer in   
           it, as most questions have been asked and aswered before.   
      
   12. When offering advice or help -   
       a)  Do so in a helpful, polite manner.  Don't be condescending -   
           not everybody may have your experience or skills.   
       b)  Refer to the page in the manual where the answer is if your   
           answer is "RTFM"! Better still, avoid using "RTFM" at all.   
      
   13. Messages should comply with the FidoNet message requirements.   
       Origin lines should not exceed 79 characters, tear lines must not   
       exceed 25 characters and messages should not contain extended   
       "internet" style signatures. No encoded text is permitted. Messages   
       must be less than 200 lines, and less than 16K.   
      
   14. Code posted should be in the public domain.  No copyrighted code   
       may be posted unless the copyright owner included permission for   
       non-profit reproduction and use in the original code. Code posted   
       without copyright claim will be regarded as in the Public Domain.   
      
   15. Election of Moderator.  Under a normal situation, if the moderator   
       wishes to step aside, s/he will appoint a new moderator taking into   
       account the wishes of the regular users where possible.  In the   
       event of a moderator ceasing to participate in the echo for a   
       period of three months without prior notice being given of the   
       absence, for whatever reason, then the ZEC (1:1/201) will conduct,   
       or nominate a regular and senior echo participant to conduct an   
       election for a new moderator.   
      
   With kind regards,   
      
   Gert Koefoed Andersen   
   binkp.kofobbs.dk   
   Moderator PASCAL   
   Pascal-Net IC 115:115/0   
   --- Posted by The Pascal Moderator   
    * Origin: The given word from The Pascal-Net IC (1:230/150)