Preamble

One of the major benefits of belonging to SAGE-AU is access to our mailing lists. They contain a wealth of information, robust discussion and inspired wit. These posts reflect the diversity of talent and opinion of SAGE-AU members, and they also reflect upon SAGE-AU as an organisation. The lists are often the first thing a new member sees.

So in order to maintain the high quality that you can expect from a body of professionals, without limiting fair discussion, we must lay some ground rules.

This document describes the acceptable use of SAGE-AU mailing lists.

List Guidelines

• SAGE-AU mailing lists are a member-only service. Postings are authorised by individual members and do not necessarily reflect SAGE-AU policy or position.
• No part of any mailing list posting may be reproduced or quoted beyond SAGE-AU membership without written permission of all contributing authors.
• List participants acknowledge that their mailing list posts will be archived by SAGE-AU and made available to members.
• Free expression of ideas and spirited debate is expected. We are a platform agnostic organisation, and welcome all respectful points of view.
• Always be courteous, professional and respectful towards one other.
• If you offer an opinion, please back it up with evidence where possible. Holy wars are not helpful to anybody, and dampen cooperative interaction.
• Avoid derogatory language, abbreviations or markup, regarding products, companies or people with whom you are displeased for whatever reason. If you have something to say, ensure that it addresses the original poster’s question or topic discussion.
• If a thread changes direction, or spins off a tangential discussion, change the subject line and start a new thread. Do not contaminate the original thread.
• Before asking a question, please attempt a little research first.
• If you ask a question, please supply as much data as you can. The more specific the question, the more likely it will be quickly and definitively addressed.
• Those answering questions, be respectful. None of us were born experts in every facet of system administration.
• Auto-reply postings like 'Out of Office' messages are not acceptable on lists. Either ensure that your mail system does not send auto-replies to lists, or temporarily unsubscribe from our lists by selecting 'no-delivery' on the SAGE-AU Member Site.
• Respect the conventions of discussion versus summary lists. If you disagree with a list's designation (or any other point of order), the place to discuss that is the Meta list.
• Declare any conflicts of interest if they have any bearing on your posting.
• All postings should comply with the SAGE-AU Code of Ethics and the spirit in which they are written.

Specifically Prohibited Activities

• Any posts that include inappropriate language, personal character attacks or are disrespectful towards other participants, including SAGE-AU.
• Posting knowingly false information.
• Posting libelous or defamatory statements.
• Any unauthorised marketing or spam.
• Reproducing any content on the lists without express permission of all contributing authors.

Reporting Violations and Enforcement

SAGE-AU reserves the right to maintain order on mailing lists that it manages, and will take disciplinary action against subscribers where warranted. There will be appointed a committee to monitor the lists and respond to violations, consisting of the current SAGE-AU president, the SAGE-AU Executive Officer and at least one other member in good standing.

At the discretion of that committee, the following actions may be taken:

• Issue an official warning; and/or
• Order immediate temporary or permanent moderation of all posts by the offender to one or all SAGE-AU lists ; and/or
• Order immediate temporary or permanent suspension from one or all SAGE-AU lists.

In serious breaches, the offender may additionally have further disciplinary action taken against them as described in the SAGE-AU Articles of Association.

Effective Date

This policy takes effect immediately.

Any changes to this document will be announced on the SAGE-AU Meta list.

On behalf of the SAGE-AU National Executive.
April 21, 2010.