Alt.freedom jbpe* rules (with explanation) 1.@Preface The following rules apply to and shall be followed by all the participants in the "alt.freedom.jbpe*" (hereinafter called "afj*") newsgroups. The right to post cannot be guaranteed unless these rules are followed. These local rules can be revised in accordance with the procedure described below, and such revision is the right of all the participants. 2. General rules (These prohibitions are common to all newsgroups.) The following are obligations of all the participants based on conscience and general ethical principles. (1) Abusing and defaming others is prohibited. (2) Divulging someone else's private matters without a reason is prohibited. (3) Deleting someone else's post without a reason is prohibited. However, this rule does not apply where deletion of a post is requested by its author. (4) No one shall post to the group using someone else's e-mail address and/or nickname. In case of violation of the above provision, the party whose address and/or nickname was usurped can delete the post in question. 3. Special rules (These rules apply only to this newsgroup. The charter of most newsgroups generally specifies only the rules of wide applicability, whereas. afj includes special provisions that make clear the intent pursued by the group. These "special rules" distinguish this group from those where the stated purport is not readily apparent.) The observance of the following provisions by all participants is indispensable to the proper functioning of this newsgroup. <> In order to prevent superfluous network traffic, crossposting to multiple groups, within or without the afj* family , is not allowed. However, exception is made for crossposting text intended to broaden discussion, etc. (In addition to the reason stated above, crossposting can be banned because it invites spamming. Also, deciding whether or not a crosspost that violates this special rule but not the rules of other newsgroups should be canceled or not can be a rather complicated matter. <> This rule prohibits posting for commercial purposes, such as selling or advertising products, and applies also to pyramid schemes. Posts in violation of this rule may be deleted by a third party. (The application of this rule can put an end to spamming and can effectively prevent trouble (fraud, pyramid schemes, etc.) in the group.) <> Posting large-size items not only increases network traffic and results in missing files, it makes it difficult, among other things, to spot the headers of the various parts of the post. Accordingly, the posting of video and audio files is not allowed. Posts in violation of this rule may be deleted by a third party. However, posts that do not violate the provisions on size limits are not within the scope of this rule. (Most video files are split when they are posted and the number of parts is likely to be high. Therefore, just one missing part of the post will make it impossible to recombine and view the video, creating a nuisance for those who have no interest in it. Since a post that cannot be recombined is tantamount to "junk", there are many negatives associated with contributing videos.) <> Posts made within Japan are subject to Japanese laws. Therefore, participants should alter the images to be posted whenever they deem it necessary. Since the type of material and whether or not to alter it is the free choice and responsibility of the poster, questions and answers about it are also a matter of free choice. However, when the poster has expressly stated "No questions on alteration" in the same post or thread (provided that the image is posted at the same time), no question or answer about such post is allowed. The poster of the image in question has the right to delete posts in violation of this rule. However, the poster who exercises this right shall give notice of it in the same thread, (Addendum) Since this rule applies only to afj* newsgroups, in the event of questions and answers occurring in different groups or media the right of the image poster is not completely assured. Further, stating "no questions allowed" after an inquiry has been made shall be ineffective. (This rule has its origin in the dispute about "masks" that arose in the japan* groups. Not even a total prohibition of questions on the subject of masks can eliminate the possibility that such questions may be asked. Yet, in the japan* groups, where there was no clear provision stating that questions should not be asked, a harsh conflict arose between those who wanted to ban such questions and those who wanted to allow them, resulting in a stormy debate where sharp insults were traded. Therefore, in afj*, where the decision to apply a mask is left entirely to the discretion of the poster, questions on the subject are prohibited and the right to delete violating posts is recognized in order to both prevent trouble and protect the poster himself. <> The limit on the maximum size of items posted is set in order to reduce network traffic. (1) If the number of files posted on any given day is less than 30, the maximum file size allowed is 512 kbytes. (2) If the number of files posted on any given day exceeds 31, the maximum file size allowed is 256 kbytes. In addition, with regard to split files, the above provisions apply to the size of the whole file. However, considering the typical size of an image file, the recommended limit is under 128 kbytes. If you break this rule, your post can be deleted by a third party. However, in case of deletion by a third party, please report this action. (If one posts a huge item, it only results in increased traffic as well as missing files in the server. A vicious circle has been created as a result of multiple reposts and consequent increase in the number of missing files. If reasonable attention is paid to post size, as required by this rule, there will be fewer instances of missing files in the server. Also, oversize posts can be rejected through appropriate server settings (filter). Splitting files is necessary in order to avoid the problems mentioned above. However, when there are missing files, recombining the original item involves a considerable waste of effort and if the user is a beginner, or depending on the environment, it requires certain skills. Therefore, please try to post files that are small enough to avoid having to split them.) <> As a yardstick, please limit your posts to afj* to no more than 60 image files a day. If you exceed that limit, your post will not be deleted, however it will result in an increase in network traffic. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. (Posting a large number of small-size files is in effect the same as uploading big ones. The reason why you should try hard to follow this yardstick is that when you want to post 62 files you must do so in two separate daily posts, which is quite ineffective. This yardstick is flexible enough to allow posts that are somewhat above the limits.) <> Posters are free to use a nickname and false address as long as doing so does not violate a general or a special rule. However, this does not relieve participants from responsibility about their posts. (The japan* groups have implemented a system, using the RFC format, that does not recognize false addresses and utomatically rejects them. However, since adult-oriented groups are easy targets for the gathering of e-mail addresses and are increasingly attracting spammers, afj* allows posters to use a false address as a means of self-protection. 4. Deletion of posts. Special rule 3 allows cancellation of violating posts by a third party, in accordance with the specific provisions regarding violation of the rules. (This is probably the most distinctive feature of afj* rules Generally, since deletion can be similar to an act of censorship, there is an obligation to preserve individual posts. Although no such obligation exists in afj*, prudence must be exercised in deleting posts. Generally, rather than directly proceeding to delete a post, it is preferable to consult the poster and let him do it, thus minimizing the risk of trouble and making it possible to resolve the matter without a third-party deletion. Participants should also keep in mind that in the event of a deletion it is imperative to notify the poster. 5. Copyrights and reproduction of images Basically, the author of an image has a copyright in it. This, however, does not include scans. When contributing images, posters should give appropriate consideration to copyrights. Basically, no rights can be claimed other than the copyright on the image being posted. Accordingly, no prohibition can be imposed on subsequent reposts. Original images circulating in Japan via WWW, FTP, ML and the like cannot be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder. (Often posters of images that they have scanned from a publication claim that others should not repost these images, which on close scrutiny seems odd. >From a legal standpoint, since the scanner has violated the law in the first place, he cannot claim to have any rights whatsoever. Therefore, he should be given credit for his scanning work, without recognition of any rights.) 6. Responsibility about posts. Participants assume full responsibility for their posts. Accordingly, participants are liable for any damage arising from their posts. However, such responsibility does not imply that a violation of afj* rules is also a violation of Japanese law. (Since anonymous posts are accepted, this provision is included in order to clarify the issue of responsibility. In other words, the fact that a post is made anonymously does not relieve the poster from responsibility.) In case of a crime-related investigation or the like, in many cases law enforcement authorities can have access to the Internet provider's records. Therefore, anonymous posts made to afj* for the purpose of evading responsibility will be fruitless. "Afj Rulebook", Japanese version. @http://www.artin.nu/newsgroup/afj-r.html