New FAQ :-)
george van hal
ALT.BUFFY.EUROPE FAQ - UNFINISHED
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This FAQ isn't finished yet.....its a guideline on how to post messages
on
the alt.buffy.europe newsgroup. If anyone has anything to add to this
FAQ or
if anyone wants to translate it into another language please reply to
this post.
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1) Help people are telling me I posted a spoiler to the group. But this
episode has
allready aired....
A: alt.buffy.europe is a place for *all* european fans to interact.
These people
are all in different points in the show. Therefore discussing something
that may
have allready been shown where you are, may spoil a whole season or
worse for
other people on the list.
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2) Q :Can I post spoilers to the group.
A: Yes you can. But there are a few rules you must follow to keep your
fellow
fans from reading things they dont want to.......
a) First off, there should be a spoiler warning in your header.
This spoiler warning should take the following form: Header tekst
[spoilers].
Also please try to remember refraining from episode specific comments in
the header. Say, for instance that Xander would be killed in an episode
and say
it's called Death becomes him.
The *wrong* way to form the header for this ep would be :
Oh my god they killed Xander!!!!
The *correct way would be:
Death becomes him [spoilers]
b) Just constructing the correct header isn't enough. It's easy to miss
the spoiler
warning or to open the message by mistake. Or maybe you don't know if
you've seen
this episode. Therefore you should *allways* tell what episode you are
spoiling for
followed by a spoiler space. A spoiler space consists of symbols placed
beneeth
each other. Just pressing enter (i.e. using white lines) is not enough
since some
newsreaders dispose of whitelines automatically.
So, say the aforementioned Death becomes him is the sixth episode in
Buffy's
Season 5, a correct example of the message would be:
Subject: Death becomes him [spoilers]
Contains spoilers for "Death becomes him" (Buffy, s5 ep6)
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Spoilerish episode discussion
c) The spoiler warning automatically implies "and earlier eps". Earlier
seasons
can therefore be discussed in the same thread. Most group regulars will
probably
put in more spoiler space for episode specific discussions of earlier
eps to provide
for those who've missed some eps, but it's not a required thing.
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3) Someone's going on about how I should've put in promo space. Now, I
know what
spoiler space is, but I've never heard of promo space before an any
other newsgroup
A: Promo space is something which has evolved on a.b.e. as a direct
result of the
spoilerish episode promo's FOX8 (the television station which aires
Angel in Holland).
You'll probably only bumb into the thing if you're discussing the Promo
which follows
an angel episode on FOX8 in the same message you're discussing the ep
that has just
aired in. If you feel you want to talk about the promo (which sometimes
simply can't be resisted)
some additional spoiler space is required. This extra spoiler space
(mostly placed at the
end of a message right before you start discussing the promo) is called
"promo space"
Some indication you're discussing the promo is required above the space.
A good way to do this would be:
Comments about the ep
And now for the promo
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comments about the promo
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4) Is Angel on topic in this newsgroup?
A: Yes, it is. So discuss away. Just remember the other rules and you
should be
fine :-)
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5) I'm new to the group and people seem to ignore my posts. What can I
do?
A: You can't do a whole lot about something like that. People are free
to
reply (or refrain from replying) to any post. You might try to make your
posts
worth replying. Discussion about the latest episodes are allways
welcomed so
try that. Read the topics being discussed in the group at the moment and
try
replying to one of those. There's not much more you can do.
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6) Can I post in my own language? I'm not that good with english.....
A: of course! This is after all alt.buffy.*europe* Just be sure to
include a
[language] part in your header so people who don't understand that
language don't
have to bother with a thread they can't understand.
Do, however try to keep the posts in any other language than english to
a minimum.
Posting in too many different languages will lead to the group becomming
less
readable and less fun. Posting in english will allow most people to join
in
the discussion. Don't worry if you're not that good with english.
Reading the group for a while should make you familiar with the style
and
language used in the group and try to duplicate that. Most people on the
group
won't mind if you're post isn't perfect language wise.
If however you feel you wan't to post only in your own language, this
newsgroup
is *not* for you. Try to find another newsgroup that better suits your
needs...
for instance: if your posting a message in french you include a
[francais/french] part in your message header.
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7) I want to reply to a thread in a different language, can I?
A: In short, no. If you want to reply to a thread in a different
language either
start a new thread or don't reply.
The exception to this rule (isn't there allways at least one ;-)) is
that someone
may allways reply to someone breaking the guidelines in this FAQ to
point out
that fact to them. We've had people breaking the language warning
guideline in
the past. People then replied to them to point out that fact. Thats
perfectly o.k.
Also if a language caries two languages to start with, replying to that
thread
using the same two languages is o.k. Starting a thread that way however,
isn't.
So there'll only be two languaged posts in someone breaks the
rules.......
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8) Can I post an off topic message?
A: Yes. Please remember however that off topic threads should be kept to
a
minimum. Plus they should allways carry an [ot] warning in the header.
Also, if you
post an off topic message, please be sure it's not your first post.
Also, there should
never *ever* be more off topic threads than there are on topic ones.
A newsgroup is a "living enitity" however and regular posters may get to
know each
other a bit while posting. This sometimes leads to messages that aren't
about Buffy.
Please however allways use your good judgement. An on topic post is more
likely to
get a reply, and an off topic one that's in the same interest area or
expresses
something stumbled upon in an on topic thread are the best ot threads.
Posts about
american football (to name just an example) mostly don't belong in this
newsgroup
unless a Buffy episode gives rise to discussion about that sport. In
short, as long
as it seems natural and as long as nobody objects, ot messages are
allowed.
Use with caution though......
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9) Are there any dont's which will get me in trouble on a.b.e?
A: Not really. Breaking normal guide lines for posting on newsgroups
will be considered
annoying by most. To learn something about the general code of conduct
you'll
probably have to lurk (reading without posting) around for a while. If
you've been
a regular on another newsgroup there's no problem. You'll be familiar
with the
ways of usenet and this group isn't any different from others. Apart
from the things
listed in this FAQ of course
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10) People are replying harshly to me, what have I done wrong??
A: Have you followed the rules in this FAQ? That probably nothing.
Discussions can
sometimes get heated, but mostly the post in question will contain some
of the following
bits. ;-) :-) :-p or something similar. These bits are used to express
not being serious.
And not being completly serious is a thing that happens a lot on this
newsgroup.
There's no fun in staying serious all the time :-)
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11) I have buffy things for sale, can I advertise on the group?
A: in short: no...... people seeking to trade stuff or who need stuff
are allowed but
try to keep it to a minimume, this isnt a trade group. Asking around if
you've missed
an episode is, for instance, allowed. Try to remember though, that
people will not
allways be ready to help a new person out immediatly. Regular posters
stand a lot
more chance that someone will help them out.
So if you're a newbie: You can try, but don't expect too much.
People seeking to make profit by selling buffy things including things
like
bootleged copies of episodes arent welcome....
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12) People here seem to be obsessed with the show. I posted something
negative
as a joke and now they're all mad. Don't they have a life of their own?
A: Most people here are dedicated fans of Buffy the vampire slayer and
care
deeply about the characters in the show ( willow has a loyal following
among group regulars for instance). Posting something harsh about there
characters
or mocking the show won't be apreciated and won't be taken in good fun,
escpecially if it's your first post to the group. You will most likely
be considered a
troll and people won't be replying to your posts. So if they are, you've
probably
posted something particularly harh and you'll most probably deserve
everything you
get. So there! ;-)
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13) Any other things I should know before posting
A: Not really.....now go on and post allready :-) !!!!
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ALT.BUFFY.EUROPE FAQ - UNFINISHED
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P@rick
[I think this should be placed before question 1)]:
Q: What is a spoiler?
A: A spoiler is technically all information about the content of an episode
of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel. This information spoils people who
haven't seen the episode yet. Knowledge about what's going to happen takes
away the element of surprise and thereby the fun of watching. To prevent
people from being spoiled, we use spoilerwarnings in messageheader and -body
(see below).
What you can and can't mention without spoilerwarning is usually a case of
using your common sense. Ask yourself if you would feel spoiled after
reading your message if you had not seen the episode yet. If the answer is
yes, or even maybe, use spoilerwarnings.
Just play safe when you are new to posting on this group. When you read and
post regularly, you will develop a sixth sense for this spoiler thing.
> 2) Q :Can I post spoilers to the group.
>
> Subject: Death becomes him [spoilers]
>
> Contains spoilers for "Death becomes him" (Buffy, s5 ep6)
> s
> p
> o
> o
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> e
> Spoilerish episode discussion
[add: Surf to buffyguide.com or buffy.com for episode names and numbers (see
links below)] ---> also mention site for Angel episodes
[I think this should be placed before question 13)]:
Q: Where can I find some good Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel sites?
The official WB homepage for Buffy: www.buffy.com
All sorts of info on Buffy: www.buffyguide.com and www.watchers.web.com
For transcripts of Buffy and Angel episodes: www.psyche.kn-bremen.de
For fans of Willow: www.hannigan.com
[more links for Angel sites]
HTH
Bye, Patrick