What you post will potentially
be seen, over time, by thousands of people. Before you post anything, ask
yourself whether you really want to be known for posting what you're
about to post. If you have any doubts, don't post it.
When replying to a message,
if your mail software 'quotes' the message you're replying to, i.e., if it
includes some or all of the message in your reply, PLEASE DELETE AS MUCH
AS OF THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SENDING IT TO THE WOTI FORUM!
You should leave ONLY enough of the original message to maintain the context.
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
post a reply to a digest without deleting as much as possible of the quoted
digest first!
When replying to a digest,
your mail program will probably automatically insert a subject like "Re:
Wings Digest V1 #626". If this is the case, as a courtesy to the other
subscribers (and to yourself -- some subscribers intentionally skip any messages
that say "Re: Wings Digest ...") please fill in an appropriate 'Subject'.
When replying to any message,
always ask yourself whether what you are saying is of benefit to the other
subscribers. If it is not of clear benefit to other subscribers, please address
your reply to the individual who posted the original message.
If you are replying to
a message, and the topic of your reply has strayed significantly from the
'Subject', it is considered good netiquette to change the subject so it is
line with your topic. A common practice is to include the original subject
too, for example:
- The original subject
was "Re: spark plugs".
- In your reply, you
are going to discuss Marvel Mystery Oil, not spark plugs, so:
- You change the subject
to "Marvel Mystery Oil (was: Re: spark plugs)".
If you're going to make
a post that is not Gold Wing or motorcycle related, it is considered good
courtesy to precede the subject with "NWR", i.e., "Not Wing
Related". For example, if you wished to post about a computer problem
(WOTI really isn't the place for it, but it's tolerated because everyone uses
computers), you might compose a subject as follows: "NWR: Computer
crashes constantly."
Replies that consist entirely
of "me too" or "I agree" or "well said" should be sent to the originator of
the message, NOT the forum.
Discussions or flames
about the policies, behavior, or attitudes of the various Gold Wing organizations
are not appropriate on the WOTI forum, for these are really issues of politics
or group psychology, not Gold Wings. Announcements of rides, rallys, events,
and so forth put on by these organizations are, however, appropriate.
If a fellow member is
not following these guidelines, is not employing proper netiquette, or has
otherwise posted something you find offensive or in bad taste, etc., please
do not post complaints to the forum or send complaints to the member.
Please address any complaints or concerns to the administrator as described
below.
This
document is intended to address some common blunders made by WOTI participants,
especially new ones. Please read it carefully. These tips and instructions will
help increase your enjoyment of WOTI, and will also help prevent you from embarrassing
yourself in front of close to 2000 members, plus uncountable others who read
the WOTI postings via the 
