The alt.usage.english FAQ   

• Guidelines for posting

  (Welcome)
  
  Things you may want to consider avoiding when posting here:
  
  (1) re-opening topics (such as singular "they" and "hopefully") that experience has shown lead to circular debate. (One function of the FAQ file is to point out topics that have already been discussed ad nauseam). You can find an archive of articles posted in alt.usage.english and other newsgroups at Google Groups, dating back to 1981.
  
  (2) questions that can be answered by simple reference to a dictionary.
  
  (3) generalities. If you make a statement like: "Here in the U.S. we NEVER say 'different to'", "Retroflex 'r' is ONLY used in North America", or "'Eh' ALWAYS rhymes with 'pay'", chances are that someone will pounce on you with a counterexample.
  
  (4) assertions that one variety of English is "true English".
  
  (5) sloppy writing (as distinct from simple slips like typing errors, or errors from someone whose native language is not English). Keep in mind that the regulars on alt.usage.english are probably less willing than the general population to suffer sloppy writers gladly; and that each article is written by one person, but read perhaps by thousands, so the convenience of the readers really ought to have priority over the convenience of the writer. Again, this is *not* to discourage non-native speakers from posting; readers will be able to detect that you're writing in a foreign language, and will make allowances for this.
  
  (6) expressions of exasperation. In the course of debate, you may encounter positions based on premises radically different from yours and perhaps surprisingly novel to you. Saying things like "Oh, please", "That's absurd", "Give me a break", or "Go teach your grandmother to suck eggs, my man" is unlikely to win your opponent over.
  
  You really *are* welcome to post here! Don't let the impatient tone of this FAQ frighten you off.
  
  Source: [Mark Israel, 'Welcome: Guidelines for posting', The alt.usage.english FAQ file,(line 308), (29 Sept 1997)]
  
  
  
  

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