National Weather Network Echo Rules, revised Sep. 7, 2017

This echo is designed for weather and earth science related
information. Usage of this echo constitutes your acceptance of
the rules below.

1) Your Moderator is Mike Powell at 1:2320/105, with
Co-Moderator Daryl Stout at 1:19/33.

2) The official language for the echo is ENGLISH...even though
weather is a worldwide occurrence.

3) Real names are REQUIRED in the echo. If your BBS software
does not post real names, you MUST have your real name at the
bottom of the messsage. This way, everyone takes responsibility
for their postings.

4) Permitted postings include the following:

a) Weather Safety Rules, appropriate to the time of year.

b) Storm Reports of Damage.

c) Skywarn Severe Storm Spotter Training Classes.

d) Weather conferences or events. I know there are "storm chasing
groups" that offer "trips" during tornado season. The moderators do
NOT endorse storm chasing, as it is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, and NOT for
amateurs. Unlike the movie "Twister", most times, it is a "Waiting
Game"...you will NOT "see a tornado after every meal". And, even
very experienced storm chasers have been injured or killed during
severe storms...because the storm did something they did not expect!!

e) Severe Weather Outlooks and Watches, as Required. This includes
Public Severe Weather Outlooks...issued by the Storm Prediction
Center for moderate or high severe weather outlooks in the
contiguous 48 states during the Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook
period.

Note that individual county warnings should NOT be in the echo.
However, warnings covering a large area...such as a Hurricane
Warning, etc. are allowed. The reason is that local warnings
(tornado, severe thunderstorm, or flash flood) can become too
numerous...and by the time they made it to the echo, these
warnings would long since be expired.

Do NOT depend on this echo for weather warnings, or other weather information...a battery operated NOAA Weather Radio (with a S.A.M.E.
(Specific Area Message Encoder) warning alarm feature) is your best
source for weather information. S.A.M.E. Radios allow users to set
the radio to sound the alarm for watches and warnings, only for the
desired counties.

Along this line, you should unplug any electrical appliances not
necessary to receiving weather information during thunderstorms.
One lightning strike can destroy everything.

f) Weather History Information. I know of only 1 website at this time
that has this data:

I. The National Climate Data Center at:

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html

g) Weather Related Websites (products and services of reputable
suppliers and organizations). These include Davis Weather
Instruments, Peet Brothers, etc. These also include weather
related websites from the National Weather Service, among others.

h) Meterological Discussions And Forecasts.

i) Automated weather data postings with moderator approval.

j) Other topics related to the content of the echo with moderator
approval. Note that Earthquake And Tsunami Reports, as well as
Tropical Weather Reports, have been moved to separate echoes;
contact Mike Powell for details.

5) Prohibited postings include the following:

a) Foul language. Intelligent people don't need to curse to express
themselves. Profanity is the attempt of a feeble mind to express
itself forcibly. This echo is designed for ALL ages.

b) Get rich quick/pyramid schemes, or "spam".

c) Messages promoting viruses, pornographic/adult/sexual related
material, or other illegal content.

d) Flaming of an individual. Take these to email or netmail...or
better yet, leave the echo altogether. There are many other topics
to discuss. If you can't say something nice about an individual,
don't say anything at all. You may not agree with their postings,
but the least you can do is show them respect in the echo.

e) Postings of warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and
flash flooding, as noted above. While weather related, they can
become too numerous, and by the time they got to the echo, they
would long since have been expired.

f) Use CAUTION in posting messages about "storm chasing". Many
people have had loved ones injured or killed...or have lost their
property in severe weather...and they take a "dim view" of those
who seem to "live to see destruction". Again, the moderators do
NOT endorse storm chasing, as it is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, and NOT
for amateurs.

I have been indirectly struck by lightning twice, been under two
tornadic funnel clouds, been within a mile of two rain wrapped
tornadoes, and in swirling floodwaters...so, I personally know what
these people are going through every time the weather turns
threatening.

Even if a tornado is "going through an empty field", the bottom
line is that SOMEONE'S PROPERTY OR LIVELIHOOD is BEING DESTROYED!!

g) Messages dealing with politics, religion, or test/seed messages.
Please take these to the appropriate areas.

h) Any message topic not approved by the moderators.

i) Messages requesting, or the posting of personal user information
(social security numbers, credit card data, etc.).

j) Discussions of these rules in the echo.

k) Quoting of Origin lines. However, quoting of taglines is
permitted...but please keep the taglines CLEAN.

6) Quote the appropriate amount your message if responding.
However, do NOT quote a large amount of the message, followed
with a single line of "I Agree". Most Sysops are running their
BBS's out of the goodness of their hearts, and are likely paying
a large amount of money to keep it online, and pass message area
traffic.

7) You may NOT gate this message into other networks WITHOUT
moderator permission. If you know of any science or weather
related BBS networks, please have the coordinators contact the
moderators via netmail...we would be happy to add this echo to
those networks.

8) Let the moderators do the moderating...that's why they're here.
We would prefer to sit back, and let everyone enjoy the echo. Please
don't "test the moderators sense of humor". If you wish to discuss
things with the moderators, please do it via netmail.

9) Bear in mind that there may be more than one user on a
particular BBS using the echo. If your actions are detrimental
to the echo, the BBS you get it from will likely cut your feed,
effectively penalizing all the others who do "play by the rules".

10) The first rules violation will be considered an accident.
The second violation will be considered questionable. And, any
further violations will result in a permanent feed cut to that
system. So consider this your first, and only warning.

Mike Powell, Moderator, 1:2320/105
Daryl Stout, Co-Moderator, 1:19/33
---
* Synchronet * GT Power/AutoSports: The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org
* Origin: Capitol City Online - capitolcityonline.net (1:2320/105)