New Members

New members to Mind's Eye will find that their messages are not delivered
immediately to the group. There is no need to re-post your message; it is
merely being held in a moderation queue for the admins to review. Typically
this process will happen very quickly as the admins are spread across
various timezones and work schedules. There may be a delay at the weekend,
but rarely will a message be held for more than a day.

After a few contributions to the group we will switch you over to full
membership, which will see your posts coming straight through. If this
hasn't happened for you and you think it should, please make a post to that
effect and we will look into it.

The current admins are: myself (Ian), ChrisJ, Kiekercraig (the owner of
Mind's Eye), and Pottsie.

Spam

The moderation queue has kept Mind's Eye blissfully spam-free, where other
groups have sunk under the weight of endless reams of junk postings and
advertising. It may be a bit of pain if you're a new and enthusiastic
member, but, well, tough; it works! I've seen the volume of spam the admins
junk on a weekly basis and I don't imagine anyone would want it let loose
upon the Group. :)

Bannings

It's been a fruitful 2007 so far for member bannings. Last year we were
banning ~10 people per month, this year we're easily double that. You
probably don't notice these bannings since overwhelmingly they are new
"members" (either individuals or scripts) spamming us and are hence caught
by the moderation queue.

Amazingly, I think there has only ever been one legitimate Mind's Eye member
banned because of what they posted. Which is testament to how civil this
place is, I think.

Posting Rules

I don't think we need an exhaustive list of what you can and can't do;
however these rules are golden (so bare them in mind every time you post):

1. Be civil; what would commonly be called an "ad hominem" attack is
unacceptable. Challenge the idea, not the person.

2. Avoid simple "you are wrong" statements; if you have a point to make,
back it up. Simple, really.

3. Avoid swearing. Sometimes it happens in the flow of a sentence -- and I'm
guilty of it -- but there are many far more creative ways to express
yourself.

4. Do not preach or proselytize; we are here to discuss ideas, not be
recruited to your particular religion no matter how great you think it is or
how much peril you believe our eternal souls to be in.

5. Attacks upon immutable human characteristics (race, disability, sexual
orientation, et al) are totally unacceptable.

Other than that, happy posting!

xxxianxx

--
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."

-- Voltaire