ASAPM Guidelines V4.03

[ASAPM Moderators]

This is a regular posting of the ASAPM guidelines. You can also view a
copy of the ASAPM guidelines at:

http://www.algebra.com/~asapm/Policy.txt

You can ask the moderators questions or provide comments by e-mailing us
at:

asapm...@stump.algebra.com

Thanks,

The ASAPM Moderation Team

----------------
The Moderator Guidelines for ASAPM, version 4.03

Moderators of ASAPM will use the following guidelines.

1. ASAPM will be a robo-moderated group with an "auto-approve list" and
an "auto-reject list"
a. A post from any poster on the auto-approve list will
automatically be forwarded to the group unless the post has a
match to an item in a filter (see 1.e).
b. A post from any poster on the auto-reject list will
automatically be rejected.
c. A post from any other poster or which has a match to an item in
a filter (see 1.e) will be forwarded to the moderators for
review.
d. If a post is rejected, an attempt will be made to return it to
the poster with the reason for rejection. Posts rejected
because they are spam or have previously been posted within the
last week will generally not be returned.
e. The moderation software employs a filtering system that is used
in an attempt to catch certain content before it is
auto-approved. This system may cause posts from auto-approved
posters to be presented to the moderation team for review.

2. Criteria for addition to the auto-approve list
a. Any new poster will be added to the auto-approve list after the
following criteria have been met.
1) The new poster has posted within the posting criteria
(sections 6 and 7) with a minimum of 5 posts and a minimum
period of two weeks.
2) Post counting will only cover a period of the previous
three months.
3) If the new poster has a post rejected due to content the
time period/post counts above are reset.
b. A poster must have a valid "From:" address in order to be added
to the auto-approve list. An address that has been modified to
prevent spam is acceptable if the moderators are able to discern
a valid address.
c. A poster will not be added to the auto-approve list if it is
determined by the moderators that the poster is someone who has
already violated the posting criteria under a different name
and/or address, or if they use a service that effectively
anonymizes the poster.

3. Criteria for removal from the auto-approve list
a. Any poster that violates the posting criteria (section 6 and 7)
will be given a warning. This warning will be emailed to the
poster, when possible.
b. Any poster that continues to violate the posting criteria
(section 6 and 7) will be removed from the auto-approve list.
This removal will be documented via email from the moderators to
the poster, when possible.
c. Posters will be allowed one warning within a one month period
for violations of section 6 and three warnings within a one
month period for violations of section 7.
d. A poster who has been removed from the auto-approve list may be
readmitted to it by posting within the posting criteria for a
period of three months.
e. At least two moderators must concur for a poster to be removed
from or re-admitted to the auto-approve list.
f. If the poster's email address is invalid, moderators will make a
reasonable attempt to find a valid address where messages can
be sent.
g. A poster who has not posted for the previous three months
may be removed from the auto-approve list until they meet
the addition criteria again.

4. Criteria for addition to and removal from the auto-reject list
a. A poster will be added to the auto-reject list only upon a
majority vote of the moderation team. Moderators should vote
yes if they personally feel that the poster's posting history
shows a continuing and intentional pattern of violation of the
posting criteria.
b. When a vote is called, the poster will be notified via email
from the moderators that they are being subjected to a vote of
removal. If the poster cannot be reached via email, then they
may be added to the auto-reject list without being notified.
Notification will allow the poster to plead their case with the
moderating team before being added to the auto-reject list.
c. Posters of spam may be added to the auto-reject list without
being notified.
d. Addition to the auto-reject list is considered permanent.
However, a person may be removed from the auto-reject list by
unanimous vote of the moderation team.
e. The auto-reject list, upon a majority vote of the moderators,
may be written to include other types of posting, such as cross
posts, etc.
f. Posters may be added to the auto-reject list, by a majority
vote of the moderators, based on their posting history in other
groups.
g. If the poster's email address is invalid, moderators will make a
reasonable attempt to find a valid address where messages can
be sent.

5. Criteria for approval of messages posted by a poster who is not on
either the auto-approve or auto-reject list
a. A post will be approved if it meets the posting criteria
(section 6 and 7).
b. Any single moderator may approve a post.
c. If a post is rejected, an attempt will be made to return it to
the poster with the reason for rejection. Posts rejected
because they are spam or meet the criteria of 7.c. will not
necessarily be returned.
d. A post will be rejected if it is determined that the poster is
someone who has already violated the posting criteria under a
different name and/or address.

6. Posting criteria. The following types of posts are not allowed.
The poster will get one warning before being removed from the
auto-approve list. Rules a-d are incorporated from the charter and
are included here for clarity. Because these sections are verbatim
from the charter, they cannot be changed without changing the
charter.
a. All attacks, abuse, flames and provocation against any person or
group. This would include posts severely critical of mainstream
treatments such as medication and therapy. Flaming is defined
as abuse, insults, harassment, suggestive slurs, and ad hominem
attacks. Provocation is defined as content primarily intended
to incite aggravation, indignation, or outrage. Comments
pertaining to discussions in other newsgroups, web groups or
email lists, or of members of these groups may also be seen as
provocation.
b. Posts sceptical of the general validity of anxiety disorders
and proven treatments. Posts whose purpose or desired effect is
to frighten people from continuing their prescribed treatment.
Common sense advice based on proven or substantial anecdotal
evidence as provided on general anxiety forums that is given
with the purpose of supporting posters is permissible.
c. Excessive discussion of moderation policy or performance.
Reasonable discussion of moderation policy and performance will
be allowed, so long as the discussion does not disrupt the
normal operation of the group and all messages comply with the
other posting rules. Any decision regarding changes to the
charter or moderation guidelines will always be subject to a
vote of the moderators. It is preferred that questions, comments
or complaints regarding moderation policies or performance be
mailed directly to asapm...@stump.algebra.com. Questions,
comments and complaints will be dealt with as promptly as
schedules permit, usually within a few days.
d. Abuse of moderators, either in posts submitted to this
newsgroup, or in email, is strictly prohibited. See above for
the current overview of what is considered abuse.

7. Additional posting criteria. The following types of posts are not
allowed. Excessive violations of these criteria may result in a
poster being removed from the auto-approve list
a. Crossposts. Crossposts to any other group will automatically be
rejected by the moderation software.
b. Commercial advertisements and solicitations (more specifically
Spam) except identification in signature lines, or legitimate
conference, book, publications, and educational course
notifications. Posts pointing to a commercial site that the
poster feels would be particularly helpful to members may be
posted not more than once per week. Posts pointing to a
commercial site are allowed at any time if the site contains
answers to specific queries of another poster.
c. Previously composed articles that have already been posted
within the last week. You may post pointers to articles in
response to requests, or offer to send articles via email.
d. Posts containing binary files, with the exception of PGP keys
(or similar schemes). Links to web pages or pointers to binary
groups with files and photographs are fine.

8. Copyrighted material
a. Since it is not possible for the moderators to assess compliance
with copyright law of every post, liability for posting of
copyrighted material lies with the poster.

9. Cancellation of posts
a. The moderators reserve the right to cancel, when possible, posts
that have been approved if at least two moderators agree that
the post violated the posting criteria (section 6 and 7).
b. Posts which appear on the newsgroup that have not been approved
by the moderators or the robo-moderator will be cancelled when
possible.

10. Moderators and modification of this document
a. Moderators of the group are:
Daniel R. Rhodes
David Chamberlain
Vashti
b. All new moderators will be subject to a period of probation of
at least four weeks, but not more than eight weeks. A
probationary moderator will be allowed to manually approve or
reject a post and vote on auto-approve and auto-reject status,
but may not participate in any other vote. If a probationary
moderator is uncertain as to the application of any posting
rule, they are expected to consult with a non-probationary
moderator.
c. A new probationary moderator will be elected by a majority vote
of the existing non-probationary moderators. A probationary
moderator can be removed by a majority vote of the
non-probationary moderators at any time. A probationary
moderator will no longer be probationary, and will become a
moderator with full rights, by a unanimous vote of
non-probationary moderators. If unanimous consent of the
non-probationary moderators cannot be obtained within a period
of eight weeks, then the probationary moderator will be removed.
d. An existing moderator may be removed by a unanimous vote of the
other moderators.
e. The moderation team should consist of no less than four and no
more than eight members. If a member of the team quits or is
removed, resulting in less than four moderators, the remaining
moderators will select and elect a new moderator. If the
moderating team consists of eight moderators, no new moderators
may be elected.
f. This document may be modified as needed by a vote of the
moderators where two thirds of the moderators vote yes.
g. For the purposes of a vote, the words "majority", "unanimous",
and "two thirds" are defined in relation to the number of
moderators who are present. All votes must be taken via email.
A moderator is "present" if they are available to respond via
email. If a moderator will not be available via email for a
period of time they should notify the remaining moderators when
they leave and when they return. A moderator will be considered
not present from the time they leave to the time they return.
If a vote is called, and a moderator does not respond for a
period of 72 hours, they will be considered not present for the
vote.

--
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