M&D spoiler warning guidelines

[Murthy Yenamandra]

Hello foax,

After looking at all the proposals for M&D spoiler warning format, most
of you seem to agree that some sort of warning is desirable on the
subject line (of course, some folks' suggestion that we disband the list
has been roundly ignored in favor of perpetuating this or-gy). Here is
what I'm planning to add to the info file sent to newcomers and perhaps
also post to the list on a regular basis (some wording suggested by
davemarc and argus):

******

With the publication of _Mason & Dixon_, many of us hope to keep our
reading experience uncluttered, and so we ask you to follow these
Spoiler Warning Guidelines to accommodate everyone and make the First
Reading of the long-awaited Book an enjoyable experience filled with
unanticipated Pleasures.

If your message includes comments on or references to _Mason & Dixon_,
please indicate that in your subject header.  Identify the highest page
number that you feel relates to your comments and use the following
subject line:

    Subject:  M&D [page number]

If you are responding to someone else's message, be sure to edit the
subject line to change the subject (if you are introducing M&D content)
or the page number (to reflect the extent of your comments). Do not
include references to _Mason & Dixon_ content on the subject line
itself. In the body of the message, include the line:

    ***** Mason & Dixon Spoiler *****

at the beginning of your message. And if you feel necessary, include a
few blank lines after the above warning to avoid accidental reading on
email programs with preview windows.

Be aware that a lot of your questions or comments may remain unanswered
or undiscussed because few people may have read them or the
corresponding parts of _Mason & Dixon_.

*****

Suggested modifications are welcome.

Murthy

-- 
Murthy Yenamandra, Dept of CompSci, U of Minnesota. mailto:yenamand at cs.umn.edu
"Always there's that space between what you feel and what you do, and in
that gap all human sadness lies." - _Blue Dog_