Discussion:
Charter of alt.astrology.moderated, November 2009: including new paragraph on posting of private data
(too old to reply)
Kjell
2009-11-02 15:55:07 UTC
Permalink
CHARTER

alt.astrology.moderated is a moderated newsgroup for the discussion of
all things astrological, including theory, traditions, innovations,
questions, study, practice, and connections to related disciplines.
There are no restrictions regarding methods, systems, philosophies, or
techniques.



§ 1. Submission rules

This group is intended specifically as a forum for students and
practitioners of astrology. If you are uncertain about what is
acceptable after reading the charter, please contact the moderators.

1.1 Delays
You may notice a delay in the appearance of your posts; this is normal
in moderated newsgroups. The moderators will try to be prompt about
processing the mail, and hope to have no more than a 24 hour delay in
sending your posts to the newsgroup. Some posters may be
robomoderated, which means their posts will appear more quickly on the
newsgroup.

1.2 Refused posts
Refused postings will be returned to posters for modification, if
their overall content falls within the acceptable category as outlined
below. This does not include commercial solicitations, abuse, flames
or malicious provocation, or repeats of recently submitted posts.
Posts which appear on the newsgroup that have not been approved by the
moderators will be cancelled.

1.3 Habitual violations
The moderators reserve the right to prohibit access from posters in
habitual violation of the rules. We define "habitual violation" to be
no fewer than three disallowed (as outlined below) posts, submitted
within thirty days or less. Abusive email sent to moderators will also
result in the sender's prohibition from the newsgroup, as well as
possible actions taken by his or her ISP to terminate his or her
account.



§.2 Prohibited/off-topic posts

The following types of posts are not allowed:

2.1 Binary files
Posts containing binary files, with the exception of PGP keys (or
similar schemes). Binaries should be posted in the appropriate binary
group with appropriate pointers.

2.2 Crossposting
Crossposts to more than four groups, to groups unrelated to the topic,
or to other moderated groups.

2.3 Spam
a) Commercial advertisements and solicitations (more specifically,
spam) except identification in signature lines, or legitimate
conference, book, publications, and educational courses notifications.

b) Product and service advertisements unless a fee is paid for such,
in the sum of five United States dollars per ad, which will be applied
to the newsgroup's yearly technical expenses. The option to advertise
for this fee may be offered within an appended comment to the refused
post. Advertisers may then respond to their refusal notice, to receive
instructions as to how to pay the fee, and when they may re-post their
ad.

Please note that this offer applies *only* to products and services of
interest to the astrological community, and that our stipulation, and
acceptance, of the fee in no way indicates that the moderators of this
newsgroup personally will endorse your product or service. This option
of ads for fees is entirely within the domain of moderator discretion
and will be offered according to the judgment of each or any moderator
on duty.

2.4 Non-English
Non-English language posts (without translation), posts formatted in
HTML, posts with signature lines exceeding the Usenet recommended five
lines, or posts which the moderators deem to be incoherent.

2.5 Copyright violations
Posts that violate copyright. You must own the copyright, or have
permission to use copyrighted materials that do not originate from
Usenet. Only short excerpts from copyrighted materials are allowed
under "fair use", with full author and publisher credits.

2.6 Reposting
Previously composed articles that have already been posted within the
last month. You may post pointers to articles in response to requests,
or offer to send articles via email.

2.7 Abuse and flaming
a) All personal attacks, abuse, and flames, including those based on
astrology. Claims of methodological, ideological, or systemical
sovereignty, or other forms of provocation, are also prohibited.
(Flaming is here defined as abuse, insults, harassment, and suggestive
slurs. Provocation is here defined as content primarily intended to
incite aggravation, indignation, or outrage. All of the preceding is
subject to the judgment of the moderators.)

b) Any comments pertaining to any chart placement of another poster in
the course of a discussion without receiving prior consent or
invitation to make such comments.

2.8 Posts of skeptics
Posts skeptical of the general validity of astrology, which are more
properly posted to sci.skeptic, or other newsgroups.

2.9 Comments and complaints regarding moderation
Comments pertaining to moderation policy or performance. Questions,
comments, or complaints regarding moderation policies or performance,
or regarding the modbot / technical difficulties must be mailed
directly to the moderators.

Complaints will be dealt with as promptly as schedules permit, usually
within a few days. Abuse of moderators, either in posts submitted to
this newsgroup, or in email, is strictly prohibited. Abusive mail can
and will be used as grounds for imposing bans. See rules 7a, and 7b,
for the current overview of what is here considered abuse.



§ 3. What posts are on-topic?

3.1 Astrology and related topics
On-topic posts include discussions of techniques and applications of
astrology and related disciplines, including history, traditions, and
innovations. Questions from novices are welcome, along with requests
for horoscope and chart interpretations which are accompanied by full
birth data.

However, please note that while astrologers do often answer such
posts, this constitutes a form of pro bono (free) service and, as many
posters are professional astrologers, they may not have the time or
interest to do free work on the newsgroup. Professional astrologers
are as serious about their work as any other set of professionals and
frequently devote hours of preparation time for a single client
consultation. It is not difficult to understand that this amount of
work (and it *is* work!) can be burdensome and self-defeating for an
astrologer in the absence of remuneration or compensation.

Please do not expect that any response to a request for astrological
advice will be as comprehensive or adequate for your needs, as would
be a full consultation with a professional, certified or peer-
esteemed, astrologer. Also, please note that astrologers, like
psychologists, can be very individual and eclectic in terms of the
techniques they use and favor.



§ 4. Miscellanea

4.1 Indemnification / disclaimer
The moderators of alt.astrology.moderated may or may not be in
agreement with any statements or advice offered in response to
questions on the newsgroup, and we (the moderators) are not
responsible for the astrological opinions and advice which other
posters offer on the newsgroup, whether those opinions be offered by
professional astrologers, amateur astrologers, or beginning,
intermediate, or advanced students of astrology.

4.2 Freedom of opinion; agreeable disagreements
Additionally welcome are posts pertaining, and related, to the field
of astrology, such as ethics, counseling, psychology, mythology,
metaphysics, divination, prediction, history, spirituality, education,
and certification programs. Although this is a moderated group,
moderators will not attempt to inhibit the free flow of ideas or self
expression posted in accordance with the rules. This forum expects,
and accepts, the civil expression of disagreements and criticisms
pertaining to the symbological interpretations, methods, theories, and
ideas encountered both here, in the posts of others, and in materials
published elsewhere.



§ 5. Addendum

5.1 Clarification of the Charter regarding publishing of private data
a) For reasons of privacy and reasons of copyright, publishing a
person's private data (specifically place of birth; time of birth;
date of birth; birth chart but also other data of private nature) is
only allowed if the owner of the data, normally the individual whose
birth data it is, has expressed their wish, acceptance or
acknowledgment that it be posted in a setting such as this newsgroup.

b) Posts containing private data, of any kind, submitted to the group
may be rejected if the moderator finds that advisable (posting from an
invalid email address may be a cause if the poster is unknown or has a
record of rejected posts).

c) Exceptions from this rule may be made if a person's records are
already publicly known and their publishing elsewhere has not been a
cause of legal action from the public person in question, in which
case they are effectively in the public domain, or if the person is
not alive, for instance if the person is an ancestor of the poster.

d) Posting isolated astrological facts that cannot lead to decisive
identification is not prohibited. Posting your own personal data is
allowed without restrictions, so also posting data of historical
persons whose records are in the public domain.


___________
- Email references have been changed, due to malicious attacks against
the email accounts. However, the submission address remains the same.
- To contact the moderators, reply PRIVATELY to me, Kjell, who is the
author of this post and also the moderator in charge. We will present
another solution, but for the time being this is the quickest way.
- For clarification purposes, paragraph numbers have been modified and
a few headlines added.
- Paragraph 5, Clarification, was added November 2009.
Kjell
2009-11-05 00:58:53 UTC
Permalink
I am sorry for double-posting about the Charter, but in trying to make
sure the changes came out right I missed to put in some of the regular
parts.

This also belongs in the posting of the Charter:

- - -

Acting Moderators:
Kjell
Elisabeth

Newsgroup Administration:
Kjell
Igor Chudov

General Advisory Person:
Gail

Technical Counsel and Services:
Igor Chudov

- - -

The original, foundational, charter is available at the following
address:
http://stump.algebra.com/~aam/Charter.txt

- - -

Finally, though I posted the Charter, I am not the author of it, as it
may seem in a note at the end of the previous post. It is the work of
Gail, founder of our newsgroup, and I have but added a clarification,
as per suggestion here in the newsgroup in October.

Imperfectly yours, :-)

/Kjell
Post by Kjell
CHARTER
alt.astrology.moderated is a moderated newsgroup for the discussion of
all things astrological, including theory, traditions, innovations,
questions, study, practice, and connections to related disciplines.
There are no restrictions regarding methods, systems, philosophies, or
techniques.
§ 1. Submission rules
This group is intended specifically as a forum for students and
practitioners of astrology. If you are uncertain about what is
acceptable after reading the charter, please contact the moderators.
1.1 Delays
You may notice a delay in the appearance of your posts; this is normal
in moderated newsgroups. The moderators will try to be prompt about
processing the mail, and hope to have no more than a 24 hour delay in
sending your posts to the newsgroup. Some posters may be
robomoderated, which means their posts will appear more quickly on the
newsgroup.
1.2 Refused posts
Refused postings will be returned to posters for modification, if
their overall content falls within the acceptable category as outlined
below. This does not include commercial solicitations, abuse, flames
or malicious provocation, or repeats of recently submitted posts.
Posts which appear on the newsgroup that have not been approved by the
moderators will be cancelled.
1.3 Habitual violations
The moderators reserve the right to prohibit access from posters in
habitual violation of the rules. We define "habitual violation" to be
no fewer than three disallowed (as outlined below) posts, submitted
within thirty days or less. Abusive email sent to moderators will also
result in the sender's prohibition from the newsgroup, as well as
possible actions taken by his or her ISP to terminate his or her
account.
§.2 Prohibited/off-topic posts
2.1 Binary files
Posts containing binary files, with the exception of PGP keys (or
similar schemes). Binaries should be posted in the appropriate binary
group with appropriate pointers.
2.2  Crossposting
Crossposts to more than four groups, to groups unrelated to the topic,
or to other moderated groups.
2.3  Spam
a) Commercial advertisements and solicitations (more specifically,
spam) except identification in signature lines, or legitimate
conference, book, publications, and educational courses notifications.
b) Product and service advertisements unless a fee is paid for such,
in the sum of five United States dollars per ad, which will be applied
to the newsgroup's yearly technical expenses. The option to advertise
for this fee may be offered within an appended comment to the refused
post. Advertisers may then respond to their refusal notice, to receive
instructions as to how to pay the fee, and when they may re-post their
ad.
Please note that this offer applies *only* to products and services of
interest to the astrological community, and that our stipulation, and
acceptance, of the fee in no way indicates that the moderators of this
newsgroup personally will endorse your product or service. This option
of ads for fees is entirely within the domain of moderator discretion
and will be offered according to the judgment of each or any moderator
on duty.
2.4 Non-English
Non-English language posts (without translation), posts formatted in
HTML, posts with signature lines exceeding the Usenet recommended five
lines, or posts which the moderators deem to be incoherent.
2.5 Copyright violations
Posts that violate copyright. You must own the copyright, or have
permission to use copyrighted materials that do not originate from
Usenet. Only short excerpts from copyrighted materials are allowed
under "fair use", with full author and publisher credits.
2.6 Reposting
Previously composed articles that have already been posted within the
last month. You may post pointers to articles in response to requests,
or offer to send articles via email.
2.7 Abuse and flaming
a) All personal attacks, abuse, and flames, including those based on
astrology. Claims of methodological, ideological, or systemical
sovereignty, or other forms of provocation, are also prohibited.
(Flaming is here defined as abuse, insults, harassment, and suggestive
slurs. Provocation is here defined as content primarily intended to
incite aggravation, indignation, or outrage. All of the preceding is
subject to the judgment of the moderators.)
b) Any comments pertaining to any chart placement of another poster in
the course of a discussion without receiving prior consent or
invitation to make such comments.
2.8 Posts of skeptics
Posts skeptical of the general validity of astrology, which are more
properly posted to sci.skeptic, or other newsgroups.
2.9 Comments and complaints regarding moderation
Comments pertaining to moderation policy or performance. Questions,
comments, or complaints regarding moderation policies or performance,
or regarding the modbot / technical difficulties must be mailed
directly to the moderators.
Complaints will be dealt with as promptly as schedules permit, usually
within a few days. Abuse of moderators, either in posts submitted to
this newsgroup, or in email, is strictly prohibited. Abusive mail can
and will be used as grounds for imposing bans. See rules 7a, and 7b,
for the current overview of what is here considered abuse.
§ 3. What posts are on-topic?
3.1 Astrology and related topics
On-topic posts include discussions of techniques and applications of
astrology and related disciplines, including history, traditions, and
innovations. Questions from novices are welcome, along with requests
for horoscope and chart interpretations which are accompanied by full
birth data.
However, please note that while astrologers do often answer such
posts, this constitutes a form of pro bono (free) service and, as many
posters are professional astrologers, they may not have the time or
interest to do free work on the newsgroup. Professional astrologers
are as serious about their work as any other set of professionals and
frequently devote hours of preparation time for a single client
consultation. It is not difficult to understand that this amount of
work (and it *is* work!) can be burdensome and self-defeating for an
astrologer in the absence of remuneration or compensation.
Please do not expect that any response to a request for astrological
advice will be as comprehensive or adequate for your needs, as would
be a full consultation with a professional, certified or peer-
esteemed, astrologer. Also, please note that astrologers, like
psychologists, can be very individual and eclectic in terms of the
techniques they use and favor.
§ 4. Miscellanea
4.1 Indemnification / disclaimer
The moderators of alt.astrology.moderated may or may not be in
agreement with any statements or advice offered in response to
questions on the newsgroup, and we (the moderators) are not
responsible for the astrological opinions and advice which other
posters offer on the newsgroup, whether those opinions be offered by
professional astrologers, amateur astrologers, or beginning,
intermediate, or advanced students of astrology.
4.2 Freedom of opinion; agreeable disagreements
Additionally welcome are posts pertaining, and related, to the field
of astrology, such as ethics, counseling, psychology, mythology,
metaphysics, divination, prediction, history, spirituality, education,
and certification programs. Although this is a moderated group,
moderators will not attempt to inhibit the free flow of ideas or self
expression posted in accordance with the rules. This forum expects,
and accepts, the civil expression of disagreements and criticisms
pertaining to the symbological interpretations, methods, theories, and
ideas encountered both here, in the posts of others, and in materials
published elsewhere.
§ 5. Addendum
5.1 Clarification of the Charter regarding publishing of private data
a) For reasons of privacy and reasons of copyright, publishing a
person's private data (specifically place of birth; time of birth;
date of birth; birth chart but also other data of private nature) is
only allowed if the owner of the data, normally the individual whose
birth data it is, has expressed their wish, acceptance or
acknowledgment that it be posted in a setting such as this newsgroup.
b) Posts containing private data, of any kind, submitted to the group
may be rejected if the moderator finds that advisable (posting from an
invalid email address may be a cause if the poster is unknown or has a
record of rejected posts).
c) Exceptions from this rule may be made if a person's records are
already publicly known and their publishing elsewhere has not been a
cause of legal action from the public person in question, in which
case they are effectively in the public domain, or if the person is
not alive, for instance if the person is an ancestor of the poster.
d) Posting isolated astrological facts that cannot lead to decisive
identification is not prohibited. Posting your own personal data is
allowed without restrictions, so also posting data of historical
persons whose records are in the public domain.
___________
- Email references have been changed, due to malicious attacks against
the email accounts. However, the submission address remains the same.
- To contact the moderators, reply PRIVATELY to me, Kjell, who is the
author of this post and also the moderator in charge. We will present
another solution, but for the time being this is the quickest way.
- For clarification purposes, paragraph numbers have been modified and
a few headlines added.
- Paragraph 5, Clarification, was added November 2009.
whatever@twixtntween.com
2009-11-05 22:37:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by Kjell
I am sorry for double-posting about the Charter, but in trying to make
sure the changes came out right I missed to put in some of the regular
parts.
- - -
Kjell
Elisabeth
Kjell
Igor Chudov
Gail
Igor Chudov
- - -
The original, foundational, charter is available at the following
http://stump.algebra.com/~aam/Charter.txt
- - -
Finally, though I posted the Charter, I am not the author of it, as it
may seem in a note at the end of the previous post. It is the work of
Gail, founder of our newsgroup,
Well, as for being the founder of the newsgroup, I'm responsible
for the awful electional (I wince to think of it), and the
"suggestion" [read: push] to start it.

But it was hardly an original idea. I remember searching
the-then dejanews for posts about starting a moderated group and
found a few by people a few years earlier than '96, who had long
since abandoned the unmoderated group. I'd have been very happy
if someone else had already done it.

The electional itself was a date someone else had spotted (who
may or may not wish to be named), and I was thrilled with the
grand trine involving the luminaries and benefics (not then
understanding the drawbacks of the chart, and what would have
worked better for the group).

But many people put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in the
months preceding its birth. Mainly due to the blood and tears, I
was left to my own devices once again...

[We had quarreled amongst ourselves (mostly only three of us),
about electional charts, agendas, etc. It was regrettable, since
the main goal of just starting a moderated newsgroup was shared
by all of us.]

Usenet was becoming less visible to new people, but it wasn't yet
clear just how much. Google Groups, surprisingly enough, has
brought newer people to Usenet, without their even knowing it.

Many Usenet posters in the '90s also subscribed to astrology mail
lists (now the Yahoo Groups), which had far more "signal"
traffic/discussion and debate, than Usenet.

But I wanted the moderated group to, among other things, make a
point about astrology. I wanted to keep astrology in a public
place (Usenet), to demystify it to people who think it's "black
magic", or some sort of forbidden occultism (although it is
mystifying enough to all of us who make a lifelong study of it,
and it's only occult because the uninformed dissmiss it as
superstition).

I wanted to make a public newsgroup, so that anyone could look in
and see that astrology is very complex and many-faceted, not just
a "horoscope" in a newspaper, and that we work very hard at it.

As for the charter, several other people added a bit here and
there but, of them, mainly max, who added a few of the points in
the "disallowed posts" list, and gave me suggestions to
integrate.
Post by Kjell
and I have but added a clarification,
as per suggestion here in the newsgroup in October.
Imperfectly yours, :-)
But probably a lot less imperfect than me, and with my
appreciation for all your hard work,

G.
Post by Kjell
/Kjell
Kjell
2009-11-16 06:38:01 UTC
Permalink
It may perhaps not have been an original idea, but you were the one
that brought it to fruition and you certainly deserve credit for that.
And whatever point of view one takes on the election, eleven years
have passed and we are still kicking. :-)

I think Usenet is more uranian than the www or the Internet, being
devoted entirely to communication (the thought of seeing Uranus as a
kind of higher Mercury makes sense to me), so I cannot think of a more
appropriate place for an astrological forum.

Myself I found Usenet through Deja in the mid-nineties, but for some
strange reason I did not look for an astrological group until 2002. So
I think Deja, and later Google, did a good thing, though many old-
school usenetters, I understand, do not like this inflow of newbies
that do not understand where they have landed. Anyhow, in this group
everyone is welcome, regardless of method of posting! :-)

If it seems my contributions are worthwhile it is only because I make
my additions standing on the shoulders of giants. Neither website nor
search engine would be meaningful without the group, and exist only to
serve it.

BTW, your post... could I use it as "the word from our founder" and
put up on the website? I think it could be nice for newcomers to be
able to read alittle about the background and history of the group.

Superimperfectly yours, ;-)

/K
Post by ***@twixtntween.com
Post by Kjell
I am sorry for double-posting about the Charter, but in trying to make
sure the changes came out right I missed to put in some of the regular
parts.
- - -
Kjell
Elisabeth
Kjell
Igor Chudov
Gail
Igor Chudov
- - -
The original, foundational, charter is available at the following
http://stump.algebra.com/~aam/Charter.txt
- - -
Finally, though I posted the Charter, I am not the author of it, as it
may seem in a note at the end of the previous post. It is the work of
Gail, founder of our newsgroup,
Well, as for being the founder of the newsgroup, I'm responsible
for the awful electional (I wince to think of it), and the
"suggestion" [read: push] to start it.
But it was hardly an original idea.  I remember searching
the-then dejanews for posts about starting a moderated group and
found a few by people a few years earlier than '96, who had long
since abandoned the unmoderated group.  I'd have been very happy
if someone else had already done it.  
The electional itself was a date someone else had spotted (who
may or may not wish to be named), and I was thrilled with the
grand trine involving the luminaries and benefics (not then
understanding the drawbacks of the chart, and what would have
worked better for the group).
But many people put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in the
months preceding its birth.  Mainly due to the blood and tears, I
was left to my own devices once again...
[We had quarreled amongst ourselves (mostly only three of us),
about electional charts, agendas, etc.  It was regrettable, since
the main goal of just starting a moderated newsgroup was shared
by all of us.]
Usenet was becoming less visible to new people, but it wasn't yet
clear just how much.  Google Groups, surprisingly enough, has
brought newer people to Usenet, without their even knowing it.  
Many Usenet posters in the '90s also subscribed to astrology mail
lists (now the Yahoo Groups), which had far more "signal"
traffic/discussion and debate, than Usenet.  
But I wanted the moderated group to, among other things, make a
point about astrology.  I wanted to keep astrology in a public
place (Usenet), to demystify it to people who think it's "black
magic", or some sort of forbidden occultism (although it is
mystifying enough to all of us who make a lifelong study of it,
and it's only occult because the uninformed dissmiss it as
superstition).
I wanted to make a public newsgroup, so that anyone could look in
and see that astrology is very complex and many-faceted, not just
a "horoscope" in a newspaper, and that we work very hard at it.
As for the charter, several other people added a bit here and
there but, of them, mainly max, who added a few of the points in
the "disallowed posts" list, and gave me suggestions to
integrate.
Post by Kjell
and I have but added a clarification,
as per suggestion here in the newsgroup in October.
Imperfectly yours, :-)
But probably a lot less imperfect than me, and with my
appreciation for all your hard work,
G.
Post by Kjell
/Kjell
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