The Moderator Guidelines for ASAPM, version 4.02 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-board@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 Jackie 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.