Posting-Tips for the Guai-Support Mailing List
  Revised February 11, 2007
Continued subscription to this private mailing list is at the sole discretion of the List Owner and your choice to remain constitutes agreement by you to abide by these guidelines.

The list is known as the GG (Guai Group) thus the logo [GG] (since abbreviations omit hyphenated words) & the subscribers known endearingly as Guais.
(Note 2002: Not to be confused with the 'newer/younger' group who elected to utilize this name.)
       
Our group is operated as a SAFE HAVEN and we discuss any rendition of the guaifenesin protocol for FMS.  Helping each individual is of paramount importance to us. 

Mission Statement - Network Disclaimer - Description/History/Philosophy
 

Click her to access the Guai-Support Membership Welcome

           ------Contents------
See #4 for your immediate posting needs.  Please follow links for further explanations.

1.  The Responsibility of Members

1.1   Refer to Posting Guidelines & seek Posting help if needed
1.2   Understanding the Review Process

1.3   Anti-Spam Programming

2.  Guidelines For Posting to the Guai-Support List

2.1.  Last Minute Check List Format (LMCL)
(Ideal method for learning to post till adept at posting, if used systematically.)
Includes:Address Field-Subject Lines  Space & Clarity  Conduct  Posting Issues

3.  Guai-Support is a Topics Mailing List
     A Brief Explanation About Topics with links to how to utilize & set them

4.  The Mechanics of Posting to the Guai-Support List 

This section contains detailed instructions on how to post an original message and replying to messages from your personal e-mail program or the archives.

4.1  Posting Original Letters To All Members Via Your E-mail Program
4.2  Posting Original Letters To All Members Via The Archives
4.3  Replying To List Messages Via Your E-mail Program
4.4  Replying To List Messages Via The Archives
4.5  Replying 'privately To The Author Of A Message Via Your E-mail Program
4.6  Replying Privately To The Author Of A Message Via The Archives
4.7  Replying To Digest Messages

5.  Help & Miscellaneous Information

See Link Panel on the right side for Treatment information

5.1   Admin Assistance
       Sal, HG Mentors & Buddies (Posting & protocol help, Sal's, etc)
5.2   Abbreviations used on the list
5.3   Navigating Guidelines
5.4   Why have Rules?
5.5   Mailing Options/Subscription Settings(Signoff, Digest, registering archives password, Changing e-mail address, changing name, Querying Your Account, etc)
5.6   A Suggested Reading and 'Refer To' Order
5.7   Guai-Support Network Description, History, etc.
5.8.  Subscription Renewal Probe (list management tool)
5.9   Troubleshooting Mail Issues (scan to know what help is available & use when needed)    
5.10  All About Viruses

5.11  Computer 'How To' (e.g., Cut/Paste, Filters, Signature lines, Remove gaps)

1.    THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS

1.1   Messages Must Comply with the Posting Guidelines
Please ensure that your messages comply with the posting guidelines by utilizing the LastMinute CheckList below. 

Members are responsible for setting their own subscription options (how mail is received) and signing off the list but are very much encouraged to ask for help from our posting mentor when needing it.  You will find very specific guidelines to help you with the mechanics of posting below.

1.2    The Review Process (a 'must read')
The purpose of review is not punishment.  It is a necessary tool while learning to post.  It is an opportunity for us to help you learn to post in a way that serves you and other members best.

 
New members are automatically set to review in order to ascertain that they are complying with the guidelines.  Review status is temporary till the new subscriber has demonstrated they can post. 

When you are on review you will receive an automatic message to tell you your email has been submitted to a moderator, I.E.

"Your message dated .......... with subject ".........." has been submitted to the moderator of the GUAI-SUPPORT list:....etc...."

This is normal and can be ignored.  When the moderator has looked over your message and okays it, it will be sent to everyone who receives the TKW that you put in the Subject line.  If the moderator thinks alterations need to be made, she will send you an email telling you what needs to be done and how to resubmit.  It contains the wording 'RESUBMIT REQUEST' in the subject line.  This is not a "reprimand" from the moderator, but an opportunity to educate.  If you don't understand what is needed simply choose 'reply' and ask for further clarification.  State exactly what it is you don't understand. We are here to help you so we expect these questions.

If you post incorrectly after being taken off review you may receive a gentle reminder notice to help with future posting.  Occasionally, if you are having a lot of trouble with posting you might be set back to REVIEW just so we can help you further.

While on REVIEW there is sometimes a delay before you see your mail on the list.  Your mail is NEVER ignored.  If it doesn't reach the list and you don't receive a personal response from a moderator please let our moderator and posting mentor Wendy know.

Please check the origin of an email before replying to the list.  If a person has replied both to you directly and posted to the list, you will receive two copies of that post. The copy sent directly to you must be considered private correspondence until such time as you see an identical post appear on the list.

To check the status of an email, look at the "To:" line in the email - if it has your address as well as the list's address, then this particular email is a private copy. This becomes important when the sender is on review as the post may or may not go through to the list, or be edited first, thus causing a delay and changes. Wait for the list copy to arrive in your mail box before posting a reply to the list. Replying to the list before seeing the message arrive there, will only confuse other members who have not yet seen the original message.

1.3   Anti-Spam Programming
        Please read so as to ensure you receive mail from GG.
 

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2.   GUIDELINES FOR POSTING TO GUAI-SUPPORT

These are in a 'Last Minute CheckList' (LMCL) format to help you get your mail to the list as painlessly as possible.  Please make a habit of checking your message parameters against this checklist before hitting the 'send' button until you are adept at posting.  It will ensure smooth posting sailing.  Also see Fear of Posting

E-mail Header: Address fields & Subject Line Issues:
1.  address your message to:
     GUAI-SUPPORT@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM
           Other Useful addresses can be found in section 4 of the 
           Detailed Member Guide

2.  Delete the original sender's address from the 'To' field

This is both a courtesy and, on occasion, it will forestall a  confusing chain of events that can be set off if either party is set to review plus it also limits the opportunities for viruses to be sent to other members privately (they can't be sent via the list).

(If you have changed the Topic Keyword (TKW) and/or Subject Keywords [SKWs] you can leave the original sender's addy in so that they (original sender) will be assured of seeing your reply even if they don't receive  the new topic you've inserted.)

3. insert the correct 'Topic keyword' (TKW)

IF you want to reach your entire targeted audience.  One does not have to insert a TKW if they wish to avoid moderation re subject lines.  If you are in the least unsure where your message should be directed ask our posting mentor: Wendy Howard (8d)

4.  Insert adequate 'Subject KeyWords' (SKW's)

to original messages.

Change the TKW and /or SKW if replying to a post which was inadequately labelled or if the discussion has now changed (8),

5.  Type TKW correctly

(be careful not to invalidate your message topic keyword (TKW) by inserting it incorrectly because it will go to OTHER.  OTHER isn't a default topic and you may not see a copy of your own message go to the list if you haven't set yourself to receive it and neither will anyone else who hasn't set OTHER.  (8c)

6.  Do not insert multiple topic keywords   

ListOwner/Assistants may do so and you may reply to that subject line once they've instigated it, unless the focus of the thread changes and then you need to change the subject line accordingly. (8a)

Space & Clarity
Archive space is always at a premium and I've been able to keep ours for many years due to the quoting rules in this section.  Digests are made more readable also.  Thank you in advance for your understanding of this important issue.
  
1.  use only plain (US-ASCII) text  
         No charset="iso-8859-1.  Please set charset="US-ASCII" (5)

2.  delete the previous message

you are replying to (i.e.,  don't leave it attached to the bottom of your message (an archive space saver) (6)

3.  quote no more than necessary & locate them above your own response(s)

Quoting in email vernacular refers to the practice of leaving the previous message, in whole or part, attached to your response.  Although lack of adequate quoting can be confusing to the reader, so can too much. 

Only include a quote for what you are referring to when you make a comment.  Keep in mind that members can go to the archives to remind themselves of the history of a particular thread/discussion so it's not necessary to quote more than you are specifically replying to. 

It IS good to be brief, but it's also necessary to provide a context so we can understand.

Please keep the quoting format uniform by interspersing your responses below all quotes - it will benefit the reader.

The message and your response may be complex enough to warrant interspersed quotes at relevant points throughout a response.

Include blank lines, especially if the discussion is complex. Long paragraphs are hard to follow.

Eliminate 'who from', date,  signatures & greetings from quotes please. No gaps & no empty lines please.  Click here for help on how to tidy quotes.

The above formats contribute to making the digests cleaner and more readable as well.

4.  clean up your mail please;

by eliminating mail headers in the body of e-mail messages

by removing '>>>' quote marks down the side

(which are created by pressing *enter* on your keyboard or by replying [quotes]/forwarding messages).

by setting mail program's line lengths adequately

(so as not to have several lines of text where 1 or 2 lines would do [both for quoting and regular text].  Your email program will have information for setting line lengths - ask Wendy for help if you can’t find it. 

by removing gaps from your, signatures, date/timeline or quotes. 

Click here for help on how to eliminate gaps. (5).

5.  Do not copy & paste whole pages from a web site

(post a brief outline and link to it instead).

6.  Do not post attachments, chain letters, virus warnings

(or any other type of warning) SPAM advertisements [leave it to GG admin please]. 

Do not solicit members to sign petitions or participate in anything outside our mailing list agenda & please seek approval for anything which IS related to our agenda.

Conduct:

1.  Complaints:

Click here to address all complaints to me (along with relevant data) please.  Never respond to the member with any corrections, reprimands or complaints.  Consider the potential for misinterpretation. 

2.  Do not make inflammatory comments,

e.g. caution, reprimand or correct other members, or make public judgments on other members comments, views, writing style, spelling errors, or their personal choices, including the choice NOT to follow the Guaifenesin Protocol, either in a particular way, or at all.  Members of our group should not to be embarrassed by their peers as the aim of this forum is to provide a safe haven. (7)

3.  Privacy: A critical issue

1. don't forward messages, nor refer to them, from GG to other lists/forums without the express permission of the author, which must be stated in your message

2. don't refer to messages made by our members in any other forum without the express permission of the author, which must be stated in your message

3. don't refer to, respond to, or quote someone's private messages to the list without their express permission, which must be stated in your message

4. don't send another person's message(s) to the the GG list for them.  If they are not already members, suggest they join.  If they are members, please suggest they request help from our posting mentor, Wendy or ask them if they would like her to write to help them..

5. Don't forward messages from other lists or people to the GG please. Only subscribers to the Guai-Support list may post to it.  If you wish to quote someone from another forum to make a point, please request their permission, be brief and state that they have permitted it in your post to the list.

4.  Do not threaten or hint that you are considering suicide

Members should not post, implying they may commit suicide. This is upsetting and distressing to others, who feel powerless to intervene.  If you really do feel suicidal, please contact your doctor, or attend your local mental health clinic/hospital immediately.  Click here for further explanation.

5. Do not refer to the list rules

on the list please.  That includes any actions taken regarding you or your posts   Discuss privately with Wendy or Tesa

General Posting Policies

1.   Do not discuss politics or religion

or request that members sign petitions for these or any other purpose.  Please keep in mind that all messages must be suitable for an International list dedicated to supporting FMS sufferers following a Guaifenesin protocol.  Spiritual messages of support or requests/offers for any type of energy healing etc., may go to OTHER topic, i.e.,
"Other: Spiritual/subject keywords to define your content further." (5)  

2.   No admin related issues to the list.

Please write to any of these personal assistants to the ListOwner:  Wendy Howard or Magi Marcon

3.   Don't CC to another list at the same time 

(multiple posting addresses unacceptable)

4.   Do NOT send advertisements

to the the list or privately to our membership, including links to to your web site.  Not even your surplus guaifenesin or other meds/supps.  We have a Member Surplus page to help you with them.  This includes any information where you might receive a gift or financial reward).  * Do not solicit for funds for any person for any reason.  * Run any unusual message by me first to have it cleared.  If you are a commercial entity with permission to post to the list (NO advertisements) and you are responding to a query regarding a product or service you sell/provide please cut and paste this item into your signature:
'Expression of Interest'
http://www.psha-inc.com/guai-support/sf/DetailedMemberGuide.htm#ExpressionOfInterest

Do not mention any product or service (including mapping) you are socially or financially connected to without permission.  For further explanation please click on this link: 'expression of interest'.

5.  No auto 'out of office' type responses

to the list or me.  Please set  yourself to NOMAIL if you are going to be away.

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TOPICS

3.    A  Brief Explanation About Guai-Support Topics
If you don't want your mail moderated for topic and subject keyword compliance you may choose not to include topic.  In that case your mail will go to OTHER, which is not a default topic and may not reach your entire targeted audience (but will of course reach all those with OTHER set.  You may not see your own message arrive on the list if you haven't set yourself to receive OTHER.   Other embargoes such as over-quoting, leaving original message attached, conduct etc. still apply.

Each subscriber is responsible for their own message, whether it be a response or new message. Please edit the Subject field of a post you reply to if it needs correcting or the discussion has changed.  It is concern to some that the  person who sent the message they are responding to will miss their response if they change the TKW or subject. This is overcome by choosing 'reply to all' and not deleting the original sender's address.

(You don't have to set ALL to receive the Admin messages they will arrive in your box so long as you are receiving at least one topic) but of course you can set it to receive all the messages which go to the list without exception.
 

Click Here to access further information about topics, including how to utilise them and how to set them.

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4.  THE MECHANICS OF POSTING TO GUAI-SUPPORT MAILING LIST
Notes: New members are on review until they've posted successfully a few times.  If you are on review you will receive an automatic message to tell you your e-mail has been submitted to a moderator.  This is normal.  When the moderator has looked over your message and ok'd it, it will be sent to everyone who receives the TKW that you put in the subject line.  If the moderator thinks alterations need to be made, she will send you an e-mail telling you what needs to be done and how to resubmit.  This is not a 'telling off' from the moderator, but an opportunity to educate.  If you don't understand the resubmit instructions please reply to the 'resubmit request' with your questions.

Please see the LastMinute CheckList for guidelines/rules for posting and to check your messages before you SEND.

If you have any questions or problems with posting, please do not hesitate to contact Wendy with the details of the problem.  She is very happy to help you.  :-)

4.1   Posting Original Letters To All Members Via Your E-mail Program

4.1.1  Open a new e-mail window in your e-mail program

4.1.2  Address your letters to:
GUAI-SUPPORT@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

(Clicking on the highlighted address above will open your e-mail program with a new message window.  You can also copy and paste it into a new message window, if you prefer - this will prevent typing errors.  You could also save the address in your address book so you need never type it.  Some programs even let you tick a 'recipient' section in your address book so that you can place your curser in the TO field of an open e-mail window and choose the recipient without ever having to open your address book again for repeat addies.)

4.1.3  Don't put any addresses in the CC field

(and delete any that are already in there.)

4.1.4  Insert a topic keyword at the beginning of the subject line and follow it immediately with a colon, then a space, then also add definitive subject keywords

(words that highlight the content of your message).  You can get an idea of which topic you'd like to use from the Topics Cheat Sheet.   It will, in turn, guide you to more information about the topic.  (One does not have to insert a TKW if they wish to avoid moderation re subject lines but your messages may not reach your targeted audience.   You might prefer to print out the full topic explanations and keep by the computer.)  This is a brief example of how to insert a topic keyword and subject keywords correctly:

Guai: Pain in my foot - is this a purging cycle?

(Note the colon [:] immediately following the topic keyword & then one space after it before inserting the subject keywords - this is important.)

When asking Salicylate questions please include the full product name of the product which contains the ingredients you are questioning, or some of the ingredients in the subject line.  'Ingredient check' is NOT descriptive enough.

4.1.5  Press your TAB key

This will take you to the body of the e-mail where you can begin typing your message. Always start your message at the top of e-mail window & don't insert hard returns at the end [pressing 'enter' on your keyboard causes empty spaces and they register in archives],

4.1.6   IF the message is regarding your guai journey, please sign it with your name and a few brief words that outline your Guai history

(i.e. how long on guai, your dose, blocking on such-and-such, if you did).  Click here for some examples for creating an automatic signature line.  This helps members to help you.

4.1.7  Before  sending your message, double check it against the LastMinute CheckList

to ensure that it meets all the accepted posting parameters.

4.1.8  Send Your Message.

4.2  Posting Original Letters To All Members Via The Archives
Note: If this is your first time in the archives, or your password is not stored on the computer you're using, you will be asked at some point to log in with your LISTSERV password.  If you have already set a password, sign in.  If you have never set a password before, or have forgotten it, click here for more information.

4.3.3  Check your subject line:  

If you are keeping your the discussion in your reply focused on the existing subject line, leave it as it.  Otherwise, consider these points: Is your reply going to change the focus of the discussion?  Has it changed previously and the subject line is no longer representative of the new discussion?  If so, please change either the topic keyword, the subject keywords or both.  Explanations & examples can be found in the Topics guidelines.  You can get an idea of which topic you'd like to use from the Topics Cheat Sheet below. 

4.3.4  Insert a very BRIEF quote at the top of your e-mail window (above your intended reply)

Complex messages which necessitate complex responses may intersperse brief quotes above responses throughout. You can also choose to BRIEFLY paraphrase/summarize significant data from the message you are responding to.  (Quoting is kept to a minimum to preserve precious archive space).  Don't leave gaps in your, signatures, date/timeline or quotes.  Click here for  help on how to tidy quotes.

5  HELP & MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
 

5.1  Admin Assistance
 

Wendy Howard

Personal assistant/Posting mentor/Moderator/Sal-Mentor

Please write to Wendy with any questions you have regarding posting to the list, understanding the guidelines, having commands work for you, archive help, etc..  You can send your whole post to her if you want her to look it over or she will help you design a message as well as choose a TKW & SKWs if needed.  Don't feel shy about it please, she has willingly undertaken this duty to help you.  Also see Fear Of Posting

Wendy started the guai protocol May 2002, found cycling dose in August 2002, re-titrated dose with several brands, age 42, no children, not sure about HG, diagnosed with FMS September 2000
Kaiwaka, Northland, New Zealand.

The computer operating system Wendy uses is listed in case your difficulty is related to your system but please understand that she has no special expertise with email programs or the mailing list and will just help guide you as best she can plus investigate the issues with you.  She is also in close contact with me. 

(PC with Microsoft Windows XP)
Experience with: Mozilla Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo!, MyFibroSite, Hotmail, web-based mail servers.
Chat options: ICQ: 178747369, Yahoo Messenger: wendy_m_howard, AIM: whoward65, MSN: wendyh65@hotmail.com, Google Talk: wendy.howard; co-ordinated with Trillian (please use wendy.howard@gmail.com for all correspondence)

Magi

Admin Assistant

Tesa

ListOwner/Manager, Admin Assistance, Sal-Mentor, web site.

Click here for all the mailing list team & their details

which includes more information re the author of the following book, Dr Penniston, and how you can write to him via the mailing list
 

5.2   Abbreviations used on the list

5.3.   Navigating Guidelines                     

5.3.1  Utilize the CONTENTS DIRECTORY in this guide and use the links to direct you to further information and instructions where it seems useful.  You can also use the FIND function under your browser EDIT drop down menu to look for specifics.

5.3.2  Brief Posting Tips (the guide you are looking at now): A concise posting guide containing brief instructions to assist in getting your mail to the list as painlessly as possible, including a LMCL (Last Minute Check List), Mechanics Of Posting (step-by-step help) plus other helpful information.  Write to Wendy whenever you need admin and posting help.

5.3.3 The Detailed Member Guide (DMG) is VERY long due to the fact that it is a reference sheet, designed to cover every eventuality with in-depth information and explanations.  Scan it briefly to see what is covered in it - it is not expected that you will read it thoroughly and remember the items.  Both this and the detailed guide are most effective when used on this web site (where all the links can be utilized) rather than printing them.

5.3.4  In addition to the many links in all the guides on the website you can also use your browser's Find option under the Edit menu.

5.4.                       Why Have Rules?
The rules are instituted for the benefit of a large and diverse community of Guai'ers, who each have different preferences.  They enable all members to get what they want rather than just a few and only if they are abided can the list operate effectively.  In fact this list's rules are not more restrictive than many other lists; each ListOwner decides how much they enforce their rules.  I'm well aware that many members have experienced much laxer enforcement on other lists but then again I've received many messages from members who prefer this list because of the outcome of the stricter enforcement of rules.  

The request to check that your mail complies with the guidelines and receiving reminders, or resubmits if you are on review, are not intended as punitive actions, they are merely learning tools to facilitate smooth list operation and to cut down on a prohibitive workload (which is not restricted to merely moderating list messages).

Quoting restrictions conserve archive space ensuring that they can be kept on-line for as many years as possible.  They also make reading the list, particularly the digest, so much easier.   Having topics in place means that people can choose particular topics in order to restrict their mail when it is too heavy for them, and in addition, good subject keywords enable members to filter their mail, read it or delete it without having to open to see what it is about.  Without topics we would not be able to open the list to so many wonderful messages regarding other treatments for FMS.  Good conduct rules exist for obvious reasons.

Although many newbies are daunted by learning the topics and how to post correctly, if one follows the Mechanics of Posting guides and then checks their finished message against the Last Minute CheckList in this Brief Posting Tips guide before pressing SEND, posting is simplified.  Being on review will also help you.  You can also remain a member without posting till you feel more inclined or ask Wendy, our posting mentor, for help when needed.  We are very patient and gentle and you have nothing to fear so please have a go at posting.  We all have to learn new things as we progress through life and are ultimately better for it.

Easy does it and patience will make your GG experience very enjoyable.  In time many members appreciate that the rules are enforced.  

It is not however possible to please everyone and thus I know that this very structured mailing list will not always suit.  However, please keep in mind that this list is a gift, not a right.  If you can not accept the gift graciously, demonstrated through uncomplaining adherence to the rules and guidelines, please sign off.  If you do choose not to stay please know that I wish you well and that a net search will surely invoke a more suitable forum for you. 

5.5.  Setting Mailing Options (which mail and how you receive it) plus subscribing, signing off, changing e-mail address, etc..

Please click here for directions.

5.6                   A suggested reading & 'refer to' order
Please take your time reading the web site. There is a lot of information and you need to work through it systematically so as not to feel overwhelmed by it. There is no site that has to be read all at once. I've organized my site so that the headings and the links are obvious so that people don't get so lost linking through to different sections. The home page will remain open and the links you choose will open in new browser windows each time. That way you can close them when you are finished and go back to the original home page, or you can leave several open at once and skip back and forth.

If you go there with purpose, e.g., to go to the sal links, that is reasonably straight forward but if you are just reading up then you will find that organizing your thinking and approach is necessary.

Go to the home page, take the time to look at all the headings, decide where you want to start then go there and check out if it is something you need to read right now.  If not, go back to the home page and choose another link.  Do that till you find what you think is of current interest to you.  The next time you visit the page you can choose another topic of interest and go read that.

If you have questions about where to find information on the site you can ask [our posting mentor] Wendy

5.6.1 Members of Guai-Support should check out the links on the right under 'Member Resources' first,

consider if you need help with posting or other issues next and then scan this BPT (Brief Posting Tips (guide).  It will refer you to more information related to your membership when needed (e.g., the Detailed Member Guide [Guaide].  There is also a step-by-step posting guide above.  You might also benefit from accessingthe Last Minute CheckList before sending mail to the list.