Important LM_NET Information

["Peter G. Milbury" <pmilbury@eryx.syr.edu>]

Hello LM_NET Colleagues,

   We (LM_NET owners) have received a number of messages recently from
other LM_NET members, regarding the nature of recent LM_NET postings.
Many of our recent postings should have been sent to individuals who
requested the information, rather than to our entire membership of 2,000+.

   Please review carefully the following LM_NET Etiquette Tips, and the
information on Target/Hit below it.  We strongly encourage you to assist
us in keeping LM_NET useful and enjoyable to all members, and adhere to
these guidelines.


              LM_NET Etiquette Tip of the Day (#6):

  When sending messages to LM_NET, please keep the following suggestions
in mind.*  It will help keep the group user-friendly for everyone.
>
> 6.  Be _extremely_ careful when replying  to the author
>     of a list message.  Many e-mail systems will send your
>     reply to the entire list if you simply use a reply command.
>
>     NEVER post a reply message to the list which would not be
>     of interest to most members.  Just send it to the individual who
>     posted the original message to which you are responding
>

              LM_NET Etiquette Tip of the Day (#7):

> 7.  Think before you post.  Do I really want to say this to the
>     world (list)?  Reread what you wrote. Did I really say what
>     I intended to?  Once a message is sent, it can't be retrieved.
>     Should I send it to the individual, or to the entire group?
>

              LM_NET Etiquette Tip of the Day (#10):

> 10. Replies to requests for information. LM_NET has developed
>     a policy of sending information privately to the requester.
>     The requester then summarizes to the list.  See the LM_NET
>     TARGET/HIT--> information for the LM_NET policy.
>
--------------
*From:  List Etiquette for LM_NET
------------------------------------

TARGET/HIT->  AN LM_NET DISCUSSION TOOL
   Your LM_NET moderators are suggesting an additional way to focus our
   discussions, and make them more valuable in the process.  This may seem
   a bit more formal that is common on most lists, but it might serve us well
   as we grow (we now have more than 2,000 LM_NET members.) We recommend
   that members specifically TARGET-> their queries, and use a HIT-> summary
   to share their responses received.

   That is, when someone wants information about a topic (e.g., online
   catalogs), they would ask for people to respond to them directly, and
   after a period of time, post a summary or compilation of responses. The
   originator of the TARGET-> question uses that term in the subject line of
   the initial question that is posted to the entire list.

   For example,  "TARGET-> Choosing Online Catalogs - March 1993." would
   appear in the subject line of the message.  In the body of the message the
   person might say something like the following:
     "Hi, this is Mike Eisenberg.  I would like to TARGET-> Choosing Online
   Catalogs.  I'd like to find out how others on LM_NET are choosing their
   Online Catalogs.  If people will respond to me, I'll compile your
   responses and post A HIT-> on the topic back to the entire LM_NET."

   Then, when enough responses are collected, the originator summarizes
   or compiles the responses, and posts the TARGET-> topic summary as a HIT->
   so everyone on the list can read, _if_ they are interested. This is a
   terrific way to add value to the list.  And it will cut down on some of
   the extra traffic.  It also still allows for stimulating discussions
   about key issues.

   The TARGET/HIT-> approach is particularly effective when someone has a
   specific question that needs a variety of suggestions, experiences,
   practices or sources.  It is not _always_ appropriate.  The intent of
   TARGET/HIT-> is to make LM_NET more valuable to its members.

SUMMARY:  TARGET/HIT-> is a four-step process:
   1.  The TARGET-> originator proposes the subject for answering/commenting.
       i.e., TARGET-> Choosing Online Catalogs.
   2.  Those interested in the subject send their responses to the
       _originator_ of the TARGET-> question. Please do NOT post the
       response to the group.
   3.  TARGET-> originator summarizes or collates the responses, and then,
   4.  Posts the summarized responses to the entire list, using the original
       subject of their message as a HIT->.
       i.e., HIT-> Choosing Online Catalogs.

   Thank you for your support of this innovation for Internet discussions.

   We hope your comments and questions, observations and ideas will be shared
with the entire LM_NET list. If you have any questions about LM_NET, please
feel free to contact either of us.

Virtually,

Your LM_NET Co-owners,
Mike Eisenberg  (MIKE@ERICIR.SYR.EDU)
Peter Milbury   (PMILBURY@ERICIR.SYR.EDU)