From: ghost_of_morphy@morphyisamongus.com   
      
   On 09 Nov 2003 20:25:13 GMT, nadacomin@aol.com (Nadacomin) wrote:   
      
   >>Subject: Towards a Real FAQ:  Please comment and contribute.   
   >   
   >>From: ghost_of_morphy@theghostishere.com  (Morphy's ghost)   
   >>Newsgroups: alt.prisons   
   >>Reply-To: ghost_of_morphy@hotmail.com   
   >   
   >The FAQ should be more realistic. It should inform the new comer about what   
   >really goes on in this group, and, what is discussed, first, before   
   SUGGESTIONS   
   >are made about what SHOULD be posted here, and suggestions about how to post   
   >useful information, and, engage in informative and useful discussions.   
      
   That sounds good.  How would you change or replace the introduction?   
      
   >This is not a moderated newsgroup, so, in reality, anything goes. Some of us   
   >may follow traditional newsgroup etiquette most of the time, or some of the   
   >time, but, there is no way to enforce it.   
      
   Exactly.  Hence the reason I made those suggestions, to encourage   
   politeness without trying to enforce it.   
      
   >I don't see much use for moderated groups, because I don't tolerate   
   censorship,   
   >or, bias in using any media.   
   >This should be a place where people can ask questions about prison issues and   
   >get honest, accurate, answers. Many people here deal strictly in how they   
   think   
   >things should be, rather than how they really are, and, are incapable of   
   giving   
   >anyone any useful information. Examples of this are law and order types who   
   >will answer any post with comments on how all criminals should do long, hard   
   >time, or be executed. Other examples of this are ex cons, convict families and   
   >friends, and, assorted whacko liberals who think that all criminals should be   
   >set free, prisons be abolished, and, that most, if not all people who work in   
   >the criminal justice system are the real criminals in society. They will   
   answer   
   >everything with accusations of corruption, brutality and incompetence, and,   
   >will ramble on and on about the prison industrial complex, whether or not the   
   >question or post had anything to do with that.   
      
   As you noted, we can't stop this behavior, but if you think there   
   should be a stronger warning about this, what do you think we should   
   put in?   
      
   >You may also take note of the fact that if an ex con, or, a prisoner's loved   
   >one posts any kind of opinion that some people should be in prison, and, that   
   >people should be held accountable for thier actions, and, learn how to control   
   >themselves and not blame others for thier problems, they are immediatly lumped   
   >in with us evil, mean, nasty corrections officers.   
      
   I'll try to work something in myself on that.   
      
   >Most of the people in this newsgroup are almost completely out of touch with   
   >reality, and, cannot engage in a discussion or provide useful information to   
   >anybody.   
      
   Ditto.   
      
   So the message I'm getting is that there should be a stronger warning   
   about the extremes on both sides of the issues?   
   >   
   >Ghost writes:   
   >   
   >>The alt.prison FAQ  (Version 1.0)   
   >>   
   >>   
   >>I. Introduction   
   >>   
   >>Welcome to alt.prison, a newsgroup where we discuss all sorts of   
   >>issues pertaining to incarceration.  If you have an interest in   
   >>learning about life in prison, conditions there, rules and procedures   
   >>of institutions, or the workings of a corrctional institution, this is   
   >>the right place to ask those questions.  Similarly, if you have facts   
   >>or news articles pertaining to correctional facilities, inmates, or   
   >>staff, feel free to share them with us.  Finally, if  you have ideas   
   >>on what should be corrected or changed or eliminated in the prison   
   >>system, do share your opinions with us.   
   >>   
   >>II. Posting Suggestions   
   >>   
   >>A. What should I know before I post?   
   >>   
   >>Before you post, we suggest that you get to know us a little bit by   
   >>LOOKING, LISTENING and LURKING.  By this, we mean that we first   
   >>suggest that you look at the message headers to see what topics we   
   >>discuss here and which of those might interest you.  Then we suggest   
   >>that you listen by exploring what is said in those topics.  Finally,   
   >>we suggest that you lurk in the newsgroup for a while and watch as   
   >>some of these discussions unfold.  By following these three L's you   
   >>will be up to speed with the rest of us on the issues we are currently   
   >>discussing.   
   >>   
   >>B. What can I post here?   
   >>   
   >>Any posts that contain views, opinions, facts, or criticism of a   
   >>correctional system are wanted and welcome as long as they are   
   >>factually accurate.  However, we have a quite diverse audience here,   
   >>and you must therefore realize that there will be some that will   
   >>question what you say.  Therefore, we suggest that you be prepared to   
   >>back up the things that you say.  For example, if you post a statement   
   >>saying that housing an inmate costs this state so many dollars a day,   
   >>I'm sure that someone would want to know where that fact came from.   
   >>If you post a news article, it would be nice to know who the author   
   >>was and where (if anywhere) it was previously published.  If you make   
   >>a statement saying that inmates in a certain faciity are routinely   
   >>treated in such and such a way, it'd be nice to know the authority   
   >>that you have for making that statement.   
   >>   
   >>C. What about off topic posts?   
   >>   
   >>Many people make posts that are not strictly about incarceration and   
   >>institutions, because they would like feedback from the other people   
   >>here or because they feel that we ought to know about what they are   
   >>posting.  It would be polite to preface the header message with the   
   >>initials "OT" to let others know that this post is off topic.   
   >>   
   >>D. What can't I post here?   
   >>   
   >>Advertisments, spam, and scams have no place in alt.prison.   
   >>   
   >>E. Is it safe to post here?   
   >>   
   >>We have a very diverse audience that ranges from law enforcement   
   >>officials to convicted felons.  I would not want all of the people who   
   >>visit this newsgroup to know personal information about me or to have   
   >>access to my e-mail address.  I would suggest that you not post   
   >>anything about yourself that you would not want publicly available.   
   >>   
   >>III.  Frequently Asked Questions.   
   >>	   
   >>A. Is prison a safe environment?   
   >>   
   >>B. I have a friend who was just incarcerated.  How do I get him   
   >>stamps, money, food, etc.?   
   >>   
   >>IV.  Definitions   
   >>   
   >>A. Kite: A note that a prisoner tries with varying degrees of success   
   >>to get from his   
   >>confined position to anyone else.   (Contributed by Stewart Connor.)   
   >>B. The Hole   
   >>C. Supermax   
   >>D. Custody Levels   
   >>   
   >>V. Recommended Links   
   >>   
   >>A.  Angel Tree  --  A charity that enables inmates to send Christmas   
   >>gifts to their children.   
   >>http://www.pfm.org/AngelTemplate.cfm   
   >>   
   >>   
   >   
      
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