This file was originally written in Feb 94, there is a "96" update
attached to the end.  Please read the entire document, and feel free 
to ask if you have any questions.  Please note that this file is 
specifically mentioned in the welcome message that was sent to you
when you jopined the list, and there is NO excuse for not knowing about 
it if you decide to hold an auction, also note that if you have received
this message from me, it means that you have most likely violated one
of the stipulations [see below], and should be considered "your first
and only warning."

Original Text:
 So, you're going to have an auction . ..please keep in mind the following
 guidelines:

 I have received no fewer than 10 complaints from list members regarding
 the recent rash of auction type posts, so from here on out, auction 
 sales will be frowned up.  However, if you feel you must do an auction
 (as opposed to a "set sale"), post your "Auction List" to the Turbo-List 
 ONLY ONCE, subsequent updates should be handled either through your own 
 private mailing list, or even through your .plan file (so that people can 
 just finger you to get the most current information), or your "home page."

 You should use the same set of rules that apply to forsale posts, most
 people DO NOT want to see the same posting 2 to 3 times a day with 
 subtle minor changes.

Also, keep in mind that this is the Turbo List and non-Turbo items 
either for sale or for auction do not really belong here.  Posting anything
where there are fewer than 50% Turbo items is going to be viewed as the 
same as posting a non turbo related sale/auctioon post.  (note that
this also incluses "Wanted posts" where you list a bunch of non-turbo
stuff that you will trade for Turbo/PCE items.)

 Recommendations:
 In your ONLY post to the list, include:
 
 Title, Format, Opening Bid (if any), and an optional short description
 of all items.
 
 Date and time that your auction will cease (no more than 5 days is
 recommended).
 
 How you will handle package deals (most people do this, if the sum of
 income from the titles bid on in a package do not meet that offer, then
 the "package" deal is the top bidder, of course this means that you must 
 maintain a list of past bids incase the package deal gets outbidded).
 
 Gross violations of the guidlines may warrant the removal of your
 address from the list (of course if you follow the guidelines, then
 you can do whatever you want, [rule-wise] for your auction).

 This file is available through the turbo-list-server ("get auction.gl").


1996 Update:
 I will not remove an address from the list, however, I may (if gross
 violations occur), prevent you from posting to the list until your
 auction is over, or for a period of 30 days.  In these cases, you will need
 to ask to get your posting privs re-instated.

 Also, please be sure to indicate that your auction is in fact an auction.
 Posting an "auction" as being a sale will be immediate grounds for the loss
 of your posting priviledges (under the guise of deceiptful posting).

 Please do not post auctions or sales that are not yours.  If someone
 else wants to send their own message to the list, that is fine, but if 
 you forward a message on behalf of another, that message will be treated
 as though it came from the original person.  This means that if the 
 seller (auctioner) has lost their posting privs for previous list
 violations, that you too will lose them.  It also means that if you
 forward an auction/sale post that you will be held accountable under
 the multiple post rule should several messages be posted on the list.

 Why the list is like this...

 There are several reasons.  In Feb 94, when this file was originally
 penned, there were soemthing like 5 auctions going on all at once,
 and some people were posting updates after every new bid.  The list
 was getting flooded.  The other main reason is that the turbo list
 has over 300 members, and the number of list members participating 
 in an auction is very few, compared to the number of subscribers, 
 and every message sent to the list does consume system resources, so
 in order to preserve the list (and prevent it from being cluttered
 with posts that have little interest to most of the list membership),
 these guidelines were established.

 As I mentioned above, if you have received this message from me
 (with an auction subject line from your auction), then it menas that
 you have done something against these guidelines (although I will
 be perfectly honest and admit that they are a little more strict than
 "guidelines.")  Reposting of "updates" (after a warning, in the form 
 of this message), will result in your address being banned from
 posting to the list until the conclusion of your auction or some other
 time frame deemed appropriate by the list managers [a month?] (note that
 if you post the auction update from an alternative address, it is very
 likely that both (all) will be banned from posting for some time 
 after your auction -- the turbo list is NOT exclusively a forum for 
 auctions.  In fact, it's not a forum for auctions or sales at all, but 
 they are permitted (within reason) since that can foster the discussion
 that takes place on this list.  Please note that you will not necessarily
 receive a warning, and the lack of getting a warning in no way means
 that you will be exempt from the rules.

 One final thought -- these guidelines (there's that word again), although
 initially came at the request of many members on the list, are exclusively
 enforced by me, and I am just a human too, if you feel the need to 
 present your case to the list, fine, but I will consider these "postings,"
 to be nothing more than updates to your auction.  Further, if you
 personally insult me (either in private, or in public), you cannot 
 expect me to be very sympathetic to your cause.  As mentioned above,
 there is NO excuse for not knowing about this file, and running an
 auction on the list, against these rules, shows that you didn't even
 bother to read the welcome message, and that really doesn't sit well
 with me, since the welcome message answers many basic questions.

 In closing, I have setup these guidelines so that those of you who feel 
 the need to run auctions, can do so.  If the guidelines are not followed
 then I will simply ban auctions from the list all together.  Granted, that
 is akin to "playing by my rules, or I take my toys and go home," but as 
 the list owner, it is my responsibility to ensure that the list survives,
 and I do believe that auctions (if run irresponsibly) are detrimental to
 the list, so you can either "play" by the guidelines, or take your auctions 
 elsewhere.

bt garner (bt@cpac.washington.edu)
owner-turbo-list
02 Jan 1996