(last updated September 18, 1999)
Welcome to the FidoNet FILK echo, which is also the usenet newsgroup
rec.music filk and the filk digest mailing list.  This is the periodic
rules posting as per FidoNet custom.   Kay Shapero, Designated Topic
Cop (see below)
[this forms part of the FILK FAQ file - the entire thing is available
for f'req from 1:102/524 as FILKFAQ.ZIP, from fileserv@bdragon.shore.net
- subject can be anything, message should be GET FILK.FAQ, or from
my website at http://pw2.netcom.com/~nshapero/index.htm.
First, to quote the charter: Rec.music.filk is for discussion of filk
(the musical genre which originated in the science fiction/ fantasy
and related fan communities, often characterized by elements of the
fantastic, science, humor, parody, futurism, and related interests),
items related to filk, and posting filksongs and poetry. Posts must
not include outright profanity or bawdy ballads (there is an existing
mailing list for the latter).     ALL MATERIAL POSTED must be things
the poster has the right to publish thanks to personal authorship,
express permission of the author or copyright holder, public domain
status, "anonymous" authorship [do check first] or the like.  When in
doubt, don't post it.  Be sure to give copyright data, if any.
Information on upcoming conventions with any filk involvement are
allowed, as are announcements of new filk projects and album releases,
or other filk-related items.  Take active sales elsewhere, such as to
private e-mail.  No other advertising is allowed.  Filk dealers' names
and addresses can be found in the FAQ; those wishing to be added
should contact the keeper of the FAQ.
end quote of charter
Since this is a FidoNet zone 1 backbone echo as well as a  usenet
newsgroup, the FidoNet requirement of each such echo having an
individual designated as "Moderator" is observed.  Usenet readers,
don't let this throw you - FidoNet uses the term differently than
Usenet, in that the Fido moderator is a sort of Designated Topic Cop,
who does not and cannot filter messages.  What a Fido moderator does
is read the echo, post the rules, warn people when they're going off
track, and so forth - in effect host the party.
The one other thing the FIDO moderator is good for in this context, is
dealing with net abusers *in* FIDOnet.  It is not necessary to bombard
the sysadmin of any site that feeds through bdragon.shore.net to deal
with such; instead send the message directly to the moderator (myself,
kay.shapero@salata.com).  If the abuser can't be persuaded to clean up
his or her act, the moderator is empowered to cut their access to the
echo, either by authorizing the sysop to do so, or even cutting the
feed to that site if the sysop won't cooperate.
And remember, we've been around awhile, even though the rec.music.filk
incarnation is new.
Rules/Customs of FILK/rec.music.filk
1) It is customary in here to get permission before posting copyright
lyrics.  Some people who are willing to have their lyrics posted to
the newsgroup or to other newsgroups have given permission to be
listed in the blanket permission list, which follows this message.
This only covers posting to newsgroups/echoes/forums/whatever your
service calls them - for any other use use the contact information to
get their permission first.
Please do not post anything but unencoded ascii text.  Make gifs,
wav files etc. available for ftp, f'req, web access or whatever and
post a pointer to where they may be found instead.
2) After falling into disuse 4-5 years ago, the FILKfile archive
(songs from the newsgroup) is being reactivated.  Songs are only
included by request of the poster - if you wish your song archived
please include the phrase "Kay, Please Filkfile" at the beginning of
the message, set off by a blank line on either side.  (Note - this is
meant to avoid including songs posters did NOT want archived.  Note that
Deja News archives everything regardless, so if you don't want them to
do so either, be sure to include x-no-archive in your headers!)
There are currently 27 FILK files, titled Ffile1.zip - Ffile27.zip.
These files can be downloaded or file requested from StormGate Aerie
(1:102/524), or gotten from the fileserver at the Black Dragon Inn
(fileserv@bdragon.shore.net - messages HELP and INDEX will give you
instructions and a list of currently available files.  If all
else fails, I am willing to dupe them onto floppies for people - send
me e-mail for details.
3) Please, no flame wars.  At least unless you're willing to conduct
them solely in filksongs, and are reasonablly witty about it.  Note -
an  offtopic argument in usenet may well involve people crossposting
to  many newsgroups, not all of which they read.  Use email, not
echomail to respond to them.
4) Threads which go off topic sufficiently will be KABONGED! by the
posting of the obvious graphic.  Please discontinue discussion of the
off topic topic (:->) after the "kabong" message appears.  (For those
new to this group - be advised this is purely a verbal warning.  See
the next paragraph for what happens to those so rude as to ignore it.)
Threads which show signs of degenerating into yelling matches will
also be KABONGED!  Feel free to resume these latter discussions in a
month or so after all involved parties have had time to calm down.  Be
it noted that when I post one of these on anything but the most
flagrant violation it means I'm getting complaints from the rest of
the echo/newsgroup...
5) People who violate the rules will be warned that they are doing  so
until they either stop, or I get fed up and cut their feed (on the
FIDOnet side), or start bugging their sysadmin or something on the
usenet side (along, presumably, with everybody else. :->) . You get
at least one email warning; how many others
you get will depend on the offence (serious technical faults like
massive dupe loops may get a FIDO system cut with little or no advance
notice.)
6) If it should become necessary for me to stop moderating this  echo
I will designate a new moderator/Designated Topic Cop.  If I  cannot
do so, Joe Bethancourt is designated emergency replacement.  In  case
of communication difficulties, he is also empowered to post  Kabong
messages on rec.music.filk if I can't do so, so if you can't  reach me
via email, try him at ioseph@primenet.com.
7) Refer any technical problems involving rec.music.filk to the
gateway operator, Karen Mintzias at 1:102/125 (from Internet
karen.mintzias@salata.com) other problems can be referred to me either
via  FIDOnet at 1:102/524, or from the internet at
kay.shapero@salata.com.
8) Please do not post private messages on the echo; check with your
sysop or sysadmin for alternatives.
9) That's it for the moment.  If someone comes up with a new and
improved way to aggravate all and sundry I reserve the right to make a
rule to fit the occasion.
Kay Shapero, Moderator [FIDO]/Designated Topic Cop,[Usenet], Filk
echo