General Mailing List Information

Subscribing and Unsubscribing

Information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe is on another page in this FAQ.

Netiquette

All the normal rules of netiquette apply to the lists. If you are new to an internet forum, the following brief guidelines should help, and some of them are specific to this list. Note that just because it's increasingly common for people online to ignore the rules of courtesy and good taste, does not make such behavior acceptable on the mailing list or elsewhere.

• Be polite. Be very polite. Remember that the people reading your message cannot see your facial expression or hear your tone of voice, and have nothing to go on apart from the text of your messages in forming an opinion of you.
• If someone is insulting, remember that you cannot see their facial expression, hear their tone of voice, etc. Do not snap off an insulting email back: wait, cool down, and then politely question their position if it still seems necessary.
• Remember that hundreds of people receive everything posted to the list. If something is of interest to only one person, email it directly to them.
• Be particularly careful about criticising:
  • People's playing styles. If they enjoy playing that way, why should it bother you? You can say that you really enjoy playing differently, of course, but don't phrase it as a criticism.
  • People's English. Not everyone on the list speaks English as a first language, and even for those who do, there are disabilities such as dyslexia that cannot be helped. Spelling errors really aren't that important. This doesn't mean that you can't ask for clarification if someone's post is hard to understand, but don't ask by criticising their English.
  • Historical Inaccuracies. Not everyone is that bothered about historical precision in the first place. Of the people who are, some have degrees in Medieval History, so make sure that you are right. (Even if you have a degree in the subject. Especially if you have a degree in the subject.)
  • Religions. There are versions of historical religions in Ars Magica, and they come up for discussion. Do not use this as an opportunity to criticise contemporary religions, or take offence at discussions of fictionalised versions of the history of your religion.
  • Published Supplements. Treat published supplements as if they had been posted to the list, because the author is almost certainly here. Apply normal rules of netiquette to your criticisms.
  • The Secret Masters of Ars Magica. You aren't cleared to know why, just don't do it.
• Remember that some people, especially outside the United States, still have to pay for their email by size. If you quote someone else, cut down to the relevant bits. Do not quote a long message simply to add a couple of lines. (This is another good reason not to send binary attachments - such things tend to be large.)
• Be tolerant. People have bad days and forget the finer points of netiquette. Everyone is on the list to discuss a game we all enjoy, so we should be able to get along, shouldn't we?