AHS Etiquette

Discussion Board Guidelines

The discussion board is different from a weblog or chat room in that it allows detailed posts, so that users may develop their arguments. Discussion board posts should be more formal than those on a blog or in a chat room. Therefore, in addition to guidelines at the AHS Etiquette home, please adhere to the following guidelines, when posting on the discussion board:

1. Contribute something worthwhile. If you do not intend to contribute to the discussion, then do not post. Replying to an article with one-liners such as "I agree!" or "Total BS" do not contribute to the discussion. It just eats up our broadband allocation and puts unnecessary strain on our server. Have a point and contribute to the discussion.

2. Avoid shorthand, poor formatting, and so-called "netspeak". Shorthand and "netspeak" make your posts more difficult to read. This includes "emoticons". Refrain from using acronyms, unless you define them first, so that everyone understands what you are talking about. Also, there is a reason that we capitalize some letters, but not others. Do not type in all capital letters. It is difficult to read and, in online forums, it is generally assumed that words written in all capital letters are being shouted. This website exists for civil discourse. There is no reason to shout, when making your case. On that note, also avoid the excessive use exclamation points, use of multiple exclamation points (!!!!) and multiple questions marks (????)

Netspeak example: FWIW I disagree w/ the author. He missed the point, imho.

Correct example: For what it is worth, I disagree with the author. He missed the point, in my humble opinion.

Example emoticons: :-) :-( :-o

car 3. Preview your post, to ensure proper formatting and proper usage of HTML (if applicable). Proper use of HTML, for the purposes of using boldface, italics, underlines and hyperlinks can make your post more interesting, more understandable, and easier for you to make your point with fewer words. See the HTML Primer on the menu to the left.

4. Avoid obscure references, anecdotes and previous conversations. Obscure references are those that most people likely have not heard of and that you do not provide any URL or hyperlink to. Anecdotes are, by definition, small samplings of the larger population, unverifiable and, often, not fully understandable. Previous conversations are rarely understood by anyone other than the people engaged in them. If you must reference a previous conversation to make your point, then please provide a URL for others to understand what you are talking about. These forums are intended to be read by anyone, not just a select few who frequent them the most.

5. Stay on the topic. If you want to discuss a different topic, then start a new thread. Do not hesitate to start a new thread! We are frugal with our broadband, but a message board is the greatest medium for generating meaningful thought and discussion on issues of the day and there is no better way to use our broadband allocation.