Guidelines for using the Forums

On-line forum discussions are quite similar to in-person conversations with a few unique differences. To get you started, we suggest these simple guidelines:

• Feel free to explore the forums. Eavesdropping on conversations is encouraged, Find forums of real interest to you and actively participate.

• Whenever you like, add your comments to the conversation. If it is your first comment let people know a little bit about your interest in the conversation. (If you are no longer interested in the conversation, say good-bye so that people don't wonder if you are still participating.)

• You can participate in as many forums as you like. Just as in your everyday life, you will only be able to keep up with a limited number of conversations so we recommend you be selective.

• Feel free to share anything you like here, assuming it is within the bounds of common courtesy. You are very welcome to post messages so long as they are relevant to forum topics. The Test Forum is a place to practice.

• Use the same "fair use" rules of thumb you'd use for anything written by others (in any medium) which usually mean that it's ok to share short excerpts but not the "whole" of materials .. and that you'd always do it with attribution to the source.

• People own their own words here ... so if you are going to quote or reprint something substantive it's polite to ask the author first.

• If you write something here which you'd rather other people NOT share (perhaps because it's pending publication or still in very drafty form) indicate that in the response so it's clear to people up front (sometimes people like to designate whole items as "quote free zones" in order to have a more closely held dialogue)

• When in doubt, use the golden rule ...do unto others' writing what you would have them do unto yours ...