Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 09:23:17 -0700 (MST)
From: PSN-Mods@csf.colorado.edu

The Welcome Message message contains information about

	the purposes for which PSN was created
	
	PSN's and CSF's communications policy which
	stress the need for mutual respect.

In our view, people who join and remain in PSN after reading the welcome
message enter into a contract, accepting the purpose of PSN and its
style of communications.  To insult or patronize other subscribers is a
violation of the contract.  

To refresh memories, we forward part (46 lines) of the welcome message:

      ------------- from the welcome message ------

PSN is a moderated (see below) list devoted to the examination of issues of
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
theoretical and political importance to sociologists.   PSN-CAFE is its
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
unmoderated companion list.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We seek intellectually stimulating debates around issues such as the
nature of the "New World Order," the globalization of capital, the
redistribution of labor from the South to the North and its effects on
labor struggles, racism, sexism, sexual politics, the resurgence of white
supremacist groups, nationalism and ethnic struggles, the future of
democracy in an increasingly polarized world and so forth. Last, but not
least, we seek a debate about the relevance of Marxism for the theoretical
and empirical investigation of the present historical conjuncture.  We
especially encourage the participation of graduate students through an
atmosphere that is supportive as well as intellectual stimulating. 
Furthermore, PSN has an archive of working papers and published papers
(with copy rights cleared by publishers) accessible via ftp, gopher and
web at http://csf.colorado.edu/psn
[snip]
************************************************

PSN rule of discourse:

	replicate in our virtual space the rules of civility 
	^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        	we abide by when we meet face-to-face
	        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

  ================ CSF Communications Guidelines ================

  PSN is hosted at CSF (Communications for a Sustainable Future)
which was founded on the idea that quality communications between people
of differing viewpoints can be an avenue for securing a more promising
future.  So, when you join a csf-list, you are undertaking a modest
obligation to write in a way that is respectful of the views of others.

  Electronic discussion is, of course, notorious for flame wars.  But ad
hominem arguments and personal slights are not encoded on silicon chips.
The vast majority of subscribers enter with good intentions but somehow,
through this new medium, good intentions can be undermined with slight
spins to which others can take offense.  So please be careful about
process -- about how you say what you wish to say.  Help us keep the
intended meaning of the word "communications" in CSF.
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