IMPORTANT OANDP-L Update

IMPORTANT OANDP-L Update

Paul E. Prusakowski

11/21/2000

Dear list members,

As you have noticed, the requirement for using URGENT: in the subject line
has been removed. The list is back up to it's standard configuration.

HOW IT REALLY WORKS:
A lot of you have been asking me how this system runs, and there are a lot
of different perceptions as to what the procedures are behind the scenes.
The way the system works is that when people send a message to the list, it
is automatically posted to all the subscribers. The content of the posting
is not reviewed by me, any organization or corporation prior to being
released to the list. Since this is an independent and open professional
forum, it should not be necessary for content to be regulated or filtered
prior to posting. The moderation occurs when I read through each message
AFTER it has been posted to make sure that people aren't abusing the system
and repeatedly breaking rules. When individuals exhibit repeat performances
of poor judgment or blatant abuse, they are then moved to a fully moderated
mode so that their postings must be reviewed at all times prior to being
posted. When someone really goes overboard, they are removed from the list,
but not without warning.

The fact that the system is not fully moderated prior to submissions being
posted does not mean that the forum should be a chaotic exchange!
Subscription to OANDP-L is a privilege and not a right, and there are rules
that must be followed in order to maintain some sort of order and prevent
self destruction. I have seen other very valuable technical and
professional forums become diluted and lose effectiveness in the past due to
a lack of structure and lack of behavioral expectations. OANDP-L is still
in an embryonic stage of development. We are all learning what works and
what doesn't work, and what impact open global communications can have on
patient care. This is OUR list, so we need to work collectively to keep it
functional.

STRICTLY CLINICAL DISCUSSIONS?
The issue of restricting oandp-l to strictly clinical discussions has been
brought up on a number of occasions. I have debated the pros and cons of
this concept, and continually come to the conclusion that oandp-l should
continue to have a greater scope than purely clinical. Oandp-l is over 5
years old, and during those 5 years some of the non clinical discussions
have had an incredible influence on the way we think, act, and view
ourselves as practitioners. Some discussions have given individual
practitioners an opportunity to shape their opinions on professional and
political issues, and some have identified the deep rooted similarities we
all share as practitioners no matter what country we practice in. And most
importantly, some of the discussions are just plain entertaining. Narrowing
the scope would neuter the evolving personality and character of oandp-l.

LIMITING DURATION OF NON CLINICAL DISCUSSIONS
We are working on developing a protocol and system for moving non clinical
discussions out of the public domain after a defined period of time. For
instance, if a non clinical debate started and created a significant level
of interest, it would be allowed on the list for a limited number of days,
then be moved to another location where it could be debated openly without
loading up everyone else's email boxes. The topic and location of the
debate would be identified in the footer of each message, inviting
interested participants to join in on the discussion. We are experimenting
with a few different methods of doing this.

RULES:

The most basic rules of the list are:
-No public commercial postings
-No vulgar language (This applies to both public and private responses to
postings. Remember that your private email is only a few clicks away from
being a public posting. Represent yourself the way you would represent
yourself in front of 2500 professionals.)
-No public discussion of salaries
-No public discussion billing prices
-SIGN YOUR NAME AND CREDENTIALS AT THE END OF YOUR MESSAGES!! Nobody wants
to answer people without a name.
-Use descriptive subject lines
-Use a subject of US Politics: or UK Politics: etc, for subject matter that
is specific to a country or region
-Send your responses to questions DIRECTLY to the person who posted the
question, NOT the entire list
-Compile and repost a compilation of answers to questions that you post-
share the knowledge!
-Use common sense and think twice before hitting the send button when your
upset
-Learn to use your Delete key
-Have a sense of humor on occasion

Let's keep on growing the value of oandp-l, and share the knowledge. Feel
free to contact me directly at <Email Address Redacted> with any ideas that can
help make this a better forum, or let me know about any problems that you
may be having.

Also, be sure to check out www.oandp-l.org for information on oandp-Live,
the first gathering of the subscribers of oandp-l to be held on March 8,
2001 in conjunction with the Academy meeting in Dallas, TX. Meet the people
behind the email addresses!

Happy Holidays.

Paul E. Prusakowski, CPO
Moderator, oandp-l