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# posting guide
```text
TRANSMISSION STANDARD
=====================
subject ............. say what it is
body ................ give it enough context
replies ............. stay on the wire
disagreements ....... address the idea
```
## make the archive worth searching
Give a new topic a subject that carries meaning outside the moment. `Emacs compilation-mode` beats `question`; `A way to archive local radio` beats `look at this`.
Write enough context that a stranger can understand the post without having watched the thread begin. Quote only the piece you are answering. Link to the original thing, not a retelling of it.
## reply with intent
Reply in the existing thread when the conversation is the same. Start a new topic when the subject changes. A correction, a counterexample, or a thoughtful `I do not know` all improve a board more than a pile-on does.
## keep the line clear
Do not post personal information about someone else. Do not use the board to harass or dogpile. If a thread is going nowhere, stop feeding it. The sysop can keep the board readable, but regulars set the temperature.
## shorthand
| Signal | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `FW:` | Passing something along. Name the source. |
| `REQ:` | Asking for help, a recommendation, or a lead. |
| `PSA:` | Time-sensitive local information. |
| `WIP:` | Incomplete work where feedback is useful. |
---
[back to node manual](/wiki?name=Home) · [new-user relay](/wiki?name=new-user)
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