<HTML><HEAD></HEAD> <BODY> As you go to sign up for the Pianotech list you'll= see this text: "The 'pianotech' list, provided as a community= service by the Piano Technicians Guild, is a forum for piano= technicians. The list resides on the PTG server and is= maintained by the PTG, but the PTG does not control the content= in any way. The "pianotech" list is an open list, allowing= anyone to subscribe or submit posts." That doesn't constitute much of a set of "rules"= for the list.  The "rules" have really evolved. = Subscribers have tolerated OT posts until it reaches a critical= level (I don't know what percentage of post that is) and then OT= posts about OT posts start!  Bad language is usually= quickly criticized by the membership, off color comments and= jokes will get you some rebukes.  As you are not given a list of rules of conduct in= the lobby of the convention hotel, the same common sense that= prevail's there should prevail here.  I suppose that if a= member put their badge in their pocket upon leaving a class and= refused to identify themselves in a casual conversation in the= lobby, the feeling would probably be similar to what we have= here.  No law says they have to identify themselves, just= common courtesy.  I have carried on conversations with= unidentified people and it didn't harm me in any way. = Frankly, I'm not embarrassed by who I am (maybe I= should be!?) so I have a signature line on each post.  I do= know that there have been aggressive political deeds= done in PTG that have hurt some people and that might make= them reluctant to identify themselves.  Who knows? dave __________________________________________ David M. Porritt, RPT Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275   ----- Original message= ----------------------------------------> From: J Patrick= Draine <<A= href="mailto:draine@comcast.net">draine@comcast.net</A>> T= o: Pianotech <<A= href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>> Rec= eived: Sun, 6 Jun 2004 14:05:52 -0400 Subject: Re: So Long= from PianoTunaGuy (OT) On Jun 6, 2004, at 12:33 PM, Paul Chick= wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?color><?param= 0000,0000,FFFF><?smaller>Who made the rules? = <?/smaller><?/color><?/fontfamily></BLOCKQUOTE> Perhaps= the Electronic Communications Committee? Sometimes I assumed it= was Andy Rudoff but I was doubtless incorrect in that= assumption. <BLOCKQUOTE><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?color><?param= 0000,0000,FFFF><?smaller>Can we see a copy of the rules? = <?/smaller><?/color><?/fontfamily></BLOCKQUOTE> Try this= URL: <http://www.ptg.org/faq/lists.html>. I think you= will note that there is nothing in there about aliases,= signatures, etc. Unfortunately, it also states= "<?fontfamily><?param Times><?bigger><?bigger>4. What topics= are allowed and disallowed on each= list? <?/bigger><?/bigger><?/fontfamily><?fontfamily><?pa= ram Times><?bigger><?bigger>Anyone can post anything. But each= list does have its intended= purpose<?/bigger><?/bigger><?/fontfamily> " Which is a bit= looser than I would suggest, if I were writing the= "rules." <BLOCKQUOTE><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?color><?param= 0000,0000,FFFF><?smaller>Are these ridiculous questions? = <?/smaller><?/color><?/fontfamily></BLOCKQUOTE> Not= at all, Patrick Draine Billerica,= MA </BODY></HTML>