The following is a guide that establishes the boundaries within which we can all enjoy a comfortable and satisfying experience within HUNT-DIS. This guide is a result of discussions we've had on HUNT-DIS regarding appropriate List Etiquette for HUNT-DIS. Those guidelines that most agreed were acceptable have been collected, organized and published here.

What topics are appropriate to discuss on this list?

"On-Topic" Subjects

1. Questions related to HD.
2. HD support group announcements.
3. Announcements of HD related events.
4. How has Huntington's affected family life?
5. What coping strategies have helped in dealing with the effects of Huntingtons?
6. Let us know if you find a Web site that deals with issues that are related to the topic of HD. Send us the URL. Do NOT copy the content of the page. This would be a copyright violation. In some situations it might be a breach of privacy. Be sure to include your own commentary regarding the site and explain why you think it would be a good idea for us to visit the site.
7. Most any situation in your everyday life in which HD plays a significant role could be a topic for discussion. Especially welcome are topics that other Hunt-Dis members can identify with. Descriptions of yourself and your family are always welcome.

"Off-Topic" Subjects

1. We are a "joke friendly" list. There is enough misery associated with HD and a good joke now and then is always appreciated. However, this is NOT a joke site so please limit yourself to no more than one or two a day. They'd actually be more enjoyable having them spread out over several days.
2. In the same vein as jokes, there are many of us who appreciate a good heart-felt poem so we invite those too. However, the better way to treat a poem (particularly if it's yours) is to post it to a Web site and then let us know what the link to it is. With a Web page you can add appropriate graphics and maybe some tune that might make it have a stronger impact.

The Subject Line

1. If you're posting a new message don't forget to specify a subject line that summarizes what the message is about.
2. On replies your e-mail program will typically take the original subject line and prefix it with "Re:" to indicate that your response is in regard to the original subject.
3. If you're responding to a message but are changing the subject then don't forget to also change the subject line otherwise all 400 of us will be totally confused.
4. If your posting is "off topic" then make sure you include the text "NON HD" in the subject line. By doing this, some of us who can't handle the volume e-mail messages can at least filter out those messages that contain "NON HD". (For those setting up their filters you may also want to filter out "NONHD" and "NON-HD".)

Deciding Who to Respond To

Some have left the list due to the volume of idle chatter associated with the list. You can help keep the volume of unnecessary e-mails down by making sure that your e-mail is properly directed to the group or to an individual.

1. Remember - Each message you send goes to over 400 people!
2. Don't include your American Express card number (except in private e-mails to me).
3. Take a couple of seconds to decide whether or not the e-mail would be of interest to the group. If so - send it to the group. If not - then send it directly to the individual. But don't overthink. Several times I've received private responses that I've been sorely tempted to forward to the entire group because I know the group would have been interested in the response.
4. If you have a message for a specific individual, even as a reply to an on-list message, then take the time to place that individual's address in the "TO" line, and spare the rest of the list your personal communication. Although it is easier to just hit the "REPLY" button than to go to the trouble of finding that person's e-mail address, it is unfair to those for whom the message is not intended.
5. If the message is intended for more than one individual, then learn how to use the "cc:" field. The "cc:" field of most mail programs will accept multiple addresses.

However, if you find manipulating your e-mail program to conform to the guidelines described in this section and the following section too difficult or overwhelming - DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! We'd much rather have your participation and a few extra e-mails rather than not be able to share your thoughts and ideas!

Conserving Disk Space

1. If you click reply, and type in your response and press SEND, then your e-mail program will typically resend the entire original message. We've already received the original post so you do not need to resend it again to us.
2. Please help each of us (and the server) save disk space by taking the time include from the original message only those statements that you specifically want to respond to. This will let us know the context of your response. Delete all of the superfluous text from the original message.
3. Don't send "Me Too!" or "Thank You" messages to the group. Send them privately to the individual that you want to respond to.
4. When people join the list it's natural to want to say "Welcome to the Group". After the first two or three people have done the traditional "Group welcome" you can help us conserve space by welcoming them privately.

Playing Nice

Remember a few basic principles and HUNT-DIS will be a place everyone will love to call family.

1. Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Without face to face communications your joke my be viewed as criticism. Use the <g> symbol to show you were smiling when you typed your message or use the :-) or ;-) symbol to let us know that you mean something to be taken in good humor. That doesn't insure that it will be taken like you meant it but at least it may take some of the heat off of your post.
2. If someone sends something to the list that you find offensive you should respond directly back to that person - NOT THE ENTIRE LIST - and explain nicely why you found the message offensive. The odds are pretty good that they didn't mean for it to be offensive.
3. Attempts to embarrass or humiliate someone on the list will not be well received by the list administrator.
4. PLEASE resist the temptation to "pile-on". If you know someone was unfairly criticized please let that person handle it - they are adults and don't need your help. If they feel they need help they will ask the list-administrator to help resolve the problems.
5. If you find that you cannot resolve your differences peacefully then please take time out from the list. We will all regret your leaving and will wish for your speedy return.
6. Resist the temptation to "flame" others on the list. Remember that there are over 400 people on this list who came here for constructive exchanges.
7. Treat others on the list as you would want them to treat you. People disagree. You are free to state your opinion on any valid subject. You should expect others to have different opinions and you should respect their right to respectfully disagree.
8. If you joined just for the purpose of reaping havoc in our lovely kitchen you will find yourself escorted out rather quickly. The list administrator has the pleasure of being the doorman and you will NOT be invited back.
9. And finally, the list administrator may be asked to remind someone to play nice. If you feel that you're being harassed please let the list administrator know and he will do what he can to help resolve any problems.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Enjoy your HUNT-DIS experience - POST AND BE HAPPY!

The Basics

1. Capitalize words only to highlight an IMPORTANT POINT or to distinguish a title or heading.
2. Capitalized sentences that are not titles are treated as SHOUTING AND WE DON'T TAKE KINDLY TO SHOUTING!!! (except,of course, in fun <g>)
3. You can also surround a word with *asterisks* to emphasize a word.
4. Be sure to include your first name (or whatever you want to be known as) at the bottom of your post.

Terms and abbreviations you may encounter in this FAQ and on the list.

Hopefully you will find the abbreviation or term that you are looking for here. If not please send me an e-mail and I will do my best to figure out what it is and add it to the list. Sprinkling your messages with a few of these abbreviations will make you look like a seasoned LISTSERV participant - have fun but please don't overdo it!

There are hundreds (possibly thousands) of specialized terms in use by the medical community. It's beyond the scope of this site to maintain a definition of these terms. However, the links at the bottom of this page will direct you to sites whose sole purpose is to maintain a current inventory of these terms.