The FAQ, list-copping, was: [cobalt-users] Cobalts for sale

[Dom Latter <DLatter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Colin said:

> I believe this topic was hammered to DEATH last week.

These "recent" posts to this thread appear to have been stuck
in the system since last Friday.  So calm down!

> Dom Latter...hello.....Dom???
> Could you please add the above link on your monthly META-FAQ 
> (if you think it's appropriate)

Fine by me; if there are no objections it'll go in.

Anyway, a few words on a few subjects.

The meta-FAQ is not intended to be comprehensive: it is a 
crash course in mailing list etiquette for newbies, and a 
small repository of useful information for Linux / Cobalt 
newbies.  Neither is it "mine" - it's meant to represent the
consensus.  The overall idea is to reduce noise and increase
signal.

List-copping is an area where there does not appear to be 
a consensus.  You can argue that somebody using the list to
advertise things should be admonished publicly; others say
it should be taken off-list.  Personally it's the the third 
tranche of posts ("who made you list-cop? etc") I find most
irritating and the most likely to generate the "can everybody 
shut up?" posts which are, well, at that point you're 
complaining about yourself...

I have a proposal: if you feel you must make a list-cop post, 
then it should contain valid signal.  (And be polite).  And 
nobody should follow-up to list-cop messages.

That is to say, a suitable response to an advert would be:
"Please do not use this list to advertise; a forum where adverts 
*are* welcomed can be found at:
http://freedom.smartbackups.net/mailman/listinfo/cobalt4sale";.

Thoughts?