Cut-and-Paste Policy (non-music)

OK, people, the cut-and-paste policy is stated in the FAQ, and I'll include it in this message. Everybody is expected to follow it, members and non-members alike. In the past, I tried to be nice and to replace cut-and-paste non-music information with a link. I don't bother with that so often now.

It's very nice that you political experts know how to cut-and-paste. Now, I'd like to ask you to learn how to make clickable links. Jeff has even provided a link-maker for you, if you don't care to learn HTML. Since you already know how to cut-and-paste so well, the linkmaker should suit you just fine.



The Mudcat Café ^TM
Thread #19340   Message #738292
Posted By: Joe Offer
27-Jun-02 - 01:05 PM
Thread Name: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
Subject: Please Don't Copy-Paste Long Non-Music Articles

Please remember that Mudcat is a Music Forum. We welcome discussion of all topics, but we give special emphasis to music.
If you wish to discuss other topics, you are welcome to post your own opinions. Please do not copy-paste the entire texts of lengthy non-music articles that are available elsewhere on the Internet - just post a link and summarize the article in your own words.
I don't routinely delete threads because they're political or controversial. I DO delete cut-and-paste non-music articles when I find them. We don't have room for people to debate simply by throwing newspaper articles at each other - but we DO allow political discussions if people express their own opinions.
If you find music information or lyrics you wish to share, particularly if it is about folk music, please DO post the entire text, plus a link to where you found it.
Thank you.
-Joe Offer-

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I don't routinely delete threads because they're political or controversial. I DO delete cut-and-paste non-music articles when I find them. We don't have room for people to debate simply by throwing newspaper articles at each other - but we DO allow political discussions if people express their own opinions. -Joe-

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Abuse of Thread Creation

In addition, it seems are a very few people who create a very large number of our threads - and most of these threads have nothing to do with music, which is the primary focus of this Forum. All of us are concerned about the current political situation, and we all have a need to voice our opinion. However, I can't see why we have to split this discussion into so many pieces, why it is so important for these few people to start so many new threads on more-or-less the same thing.

I've experimented with various methods of controlling this mess, and I haven't found the perfect solution. I'm open to suggestions, and I will continue to try a variety of things. When things get out of hand, you can expect to see threads consolidated or renamed, and frivolous threads deleted.

I count 14 Iraq threads active today. I'm mad as hell about Bush's statement that he "respectfully disagrees" with the millions who protest his Iraq war - but I don't know where to put my comments, or whether somebody else has already said what I have to say.

I'm frustrated. What can we do to put a sense of order into our discussion of the political situation? How can we allow everyone to say what they think, without allowing the Forum to be dominated by a few idiots who overwhelm us with their verbosity?

I'll tell you one thing I'm going to do: if you start a thread with a cut-and-paste non-music article, I'll delete the whole damn thread. The policy on cut-and-paste is clear. Follow it.

Another thing you can expect: if you start more than one political thread in a day, expect them all to be consolidated with others. Your limit is ONE PER DAY, and fewer would be greatly appreciated.

-Joe Offer-