Overview - 

"Requests" sounds much better to my ear than "Rules" or "Guidelines". My plan is to limit these requests as much as possible.  As situations and events warrant their posting, I'll locate signposts and trailmarkers here.  As the original RBW list guidelines once stated, it's important to be polite, as though you were sitting next to a stranger on a park bench. I believe that is the most important component in keeping the tone of this list. We may disagree, hold strong opinions and think what we want to privately, but please treat one another with respect when posting here. 

 

Requests:

---

Request #1 - For Sale Listings:

It seems to me that since this is a Rivendell-centric list, that items listed for sale should be overwhelmingly Rivendellian in their presentation.

Conventions on For Sale Listings:

- Please indicate whether or not a listing is yours.  (I realize it's a given if you are specifically listing items -- I'm referring to links to auctions and CL postings). 

- If the listing is not yours, let us know if you just came across it or if you have relation to or knowledge of the seller. 

- Use one of the url shortening widget-sites (tinyurl.com, bit.ly, etc.) to create a short, non-breaking link in your post. These are bone-simple, free online resources and makes it much easier for others to follow the link you have shared.

- Please do not attach images to your email.  Post them online at one of the photo sharing sites provide a link (yep, a "short" link if applicable) to the image.  Note also that some of the online sharing sites specifically prohibit "for sale" listings.

- If you are interested in buying the item, please respond directly to the seller - not to the list.  Note that the default "Reply" is to the general list, so you will need to change that before you email/reply.

 

Our One FAQ:

---

"Why don't my postings immediately show up?"

All new members and any resubscribing members are wrangled into the Moderated Postings corral. This is to prevent the standard SPAM practice of subscribing from a never-to-be-used-again email address at 4 in the morning, hammering the list with unwanted postings and then flitting off past the horizon. This means that if you are "new" to the list, what you post gets sent to me for approval. This can take the better part of a day (or more, if I'm super busy).  

 

Normally, I go through the new members every couple of weeks, and anyone whose name I recognize as a recent contributor gets allowed into the verdant pastures of full RBW Owners Bunch posting ability. Sometimes I miss folks, and I usually let you post at least once before giving full permissions. If you want to immediately join in the discussion, send me an email when you join, and I'll punch your ticket a bit quicker (though it still might take a day or so, depending on my schedule.) If you do this, make sure you are telling me your member name or the email address under which you joined.

Please note that a "contributor" to the list means joining in the conversation and sharing in a positive and respectful manner. "For Sale" or auction listings do not count. 

Search Function on the RBW Owners Bunch:

---

It appears that Google Groups has been having an issue with the standard search function related to the groups.  There is no official word on an expected fix.

All the posts of this group are still available.  You can find them if you go to the group page, then click on "About This Group".  There is a tally by month of the posts to this group.  You can click on each number to see that month's posts.

The current specific workaround seems to be by using the Google Groups Advanced Search page - http://groups.google.com/advanced_search?q=

If you use this search, it will generate a result which includes posts back to the beginning of this group. 

NOTE - When using the Google Groups Advanced Search page, you will need to enter the specific name of this group:  rbw-owners-bunch

Hope that helps.  More info as I know more.