"Off-topic" messages

[Roy Tennant]

Recently the Web4Lib Advisory Board has noticed a few subscribers 
posting off-topic messages, but in a way that they apparently believe 
excuses the behavior.  We would like to remind the membership that 
declaring a message to be off-topic from the outset (even in the 
subject line as has been seen recently), apologizing profusely, or 
explaining that there is no other place to ask the question, are all 
insufficient grounds for ignoring the policies of this discussion.

On the other hand, those who declare their messages to be off-topic 
aren't always accurate in their appraisal.  Herewith, then, are some 
guidelines to help you decide.

* The two intersecting aspects of this discussion are web systems and 
libraries. Although postings should generally relate to both of those 
areas, the Board will generally accept postings that speak to some 
aspect of the web even if it does not directly bear on 
library-specific issues. The reverse, however, is not the case. 
Postings that would be appropriate to a general library list are not 
necessarily appropriate here -- they must have some web aspect to 
them to be accepted. We like to interpret this rather broadly, but 
there are limits.

* If you have the urge to warn readers that your message is 
"off-topic", do one or more of the following:
    - reconsider: does the message relate to web systems and libraries 
at all? Would a reasonable person agree with your assessment?
    - rewrite: perhaps you haven't worded your message appropriately 
for the readership to understand how it relates to the discussion 
topic
    - post elsewhere:  there may be another list that is more 
appropriate for this message
    - don't post

Thank you all for your continued adherence to Web4Lib policy,
Web4Lib Advisory Board
Roy Tennant
Karen Schneider
Bernie Sloan
Thomas Dowling