Signature Lines: 
Signature lines are the letterhead of your e-mail message and more. Typically they include 5 -10 lines of contact information for you and/or your business, and are appended automatically to the end (or sometimes at the TOP>) of each message you send. Check your e-mail software for this feature, not all have it available - but most do. If you don't find it easily by clicking on the items appearing at the TOP> of your screen, try using your "help" button to find out where you can input your signature.

Because Internet e-mail functions with ASCII text (no bold or italicized characters, for instance), these signature lines are often dressed up with other keyboard characters. An example signature line looks like:
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Bobby Orr
NumberFour@nshl.com
http://www.nshl.com
Net Surfer's Hockey League
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Four or five lines of text and two lines of characters blocking off the signature. It usually includes contact information and may also include a line or two of promotion for a product or service. Some e-mail programs permit more than one set of signature lines to give you the flexibility of alternate personas - perhaps separate business and personal ones or one for you and another for your significant other.
 

Signature lines that are too long often get ignored and take up unnecessary bandwidth.  It's like putting a "wide load" sign on the back of a volkswagon.

The nshlhockey@onelist.com E-Mail Discussion Groups (aka listservs)
This is the basic vehicle of communication for the General Manager of the NSHL.  It functions by offering a central e-mail address (nshl@nshl.com) to use for broadcasting messages to the entire subscriber base. It's important to look for a frequently asked question (FAQ) file when you first sign on (see: Acceptable Use of the NSHL Mailing List Policies) often sent to you automatically during the sign-up process. This electronic document will outline the rules of the list, defining what is acceptable and unacceptable for posting to the group. Although it sounds strict, most lists are quite informal and operate with a conversational tone. After sending your post to this central address, the software will route it to all the subscribers of the list - two dozen GMs from all over the world.  Sometimes the messages are reviewed by a moderator prior to disbursement.

As a subscriber to a discussion group, you should expect to start receiving email shortly after you signup. Hang back a while and read the posts before joining in to get a feel for the personalities and the scope of discussions. When you post a message, follow the basic rules of Netiquette outlined later. When your message is posted to the group, all recipients will see your e-mail address so that they can choose to respond either publicly through the list, or privately direct back to you. Reference the relevant discussion thread (TOP>ic) in your subject line when replying to another's comments.

For more information about the mechanics of finding and subscribing to discussion groups, please visit "Mailing List Discussion Groups" and read the link descriptions. Some of these sites offer step by step directions for finding and subscribing to mailing lists. For a quick reference click here and print out. 

Netiquette or Style Tips: 
E-mail is an informal method of communicating, but some basic rules of style or Netiquette (network etiquette) are expected.

• DON'T TYPE IN ALL CAPS. This is perceived as shouting. 
• Use emoticons (smileys) when trying to convey a tone of voice :-) 
• Limit line length to 65-70 characters across. Otherwise some e-mail programs will wrap the text at wrong points or not wrap it at all. 
• Consider carefully what you write; it's a permanent record and can be easily forwarded to others. 
• Write succinctly. Don't waste bandwidth. E-mail may be inexpensive to most, but not to all. 
• Don't attach large files (over 50K) without getting permission from your recipient first. 
• Don't attach files for posting to discussion groups. 
• Turn off e-mail formatting (non-ASCII) when posting to a discussion group. 
• Don't send entire web pages to a discussion group, just the URLs (http's). 
• When sending a web site address, always type it in the form of "http://…" because some e-mail programs will permit the user to click on a web address to go right there. Without the "http://" prefix these programs will not recognize it as such. 
• Don't blatantly promote your business by posting an advertisement for frying pans to a discussion group, unless it is clearly an accepted use and you have cleared it with the moderator (if there is one) first. Otherwise, you are "spamming." 
• Write descriptive subject lines. Many busy people will only open messages with captivating subject lines others may get deleted.  Think creatively. 
• Don't quote back an entire message when only responding to one or two points. Delete the excess and make a note at the very TOP> before starting the quotes. Some e-mail programs will automatically set up to quote the original message when replying and put you at the end of that message. This is very annoying to your recipients. 
• When forwarding messages, put your comments at the TOP> of the message. 
• Don't overuse acronyms like BTW (by the way) or IMHO (in my humble opinion). Not everyone is experienced with this jargon and they may not want to admit their confusion - possibly losing your point. 
• Do not forward personal e-mail to a discussion group without getting the author's permission first. 
• Read over your e-mail before you send it. Although e-mail is a more informal method of communication than writing a letter, be sure you make your points clear and concise. Use a spell checker if available.

BEYOND FLAMING: HOW TO FIGHT FAIR ONLINE 

Feeling hurt or angry after reading an email message from friend, family member, colleague or online acquaintance? ere are twelve guidelines for conflict resolution via email - many of them also useful for in-person relationships.

• 1. Clarify the INTENT of your communication. Is it primarily to justify yourself or are you seeking resolution with the other party? Can you do both? 
• 2. Try to maintain AWARENESS of the other person on the receiving end, and the effect your communication is likely to have upon him or her. Attempt to be conscious of both SELF and OTHER as you write. 
• 3. Write as DIRECTLY and clearly as possible. Consider how the other person might misinterpret your language, and take more time to explain thoughts that might easily be misinterpreted.
• 4. If the other person understands them, use EMOTICONS or other forms of Internet shorthand (such as <grin> <frown> <wink) if doing so helps clarify your communication. Sometimes, using emoticons (such as  :-)  for smiling, or  :-(  for frowning) understood by both parties can help lighten the interaction, and ease the conflict. If the other person doesn't understand the emoticon, you can still use it - just indicate  its meaning!  (For a list and description of recommended emoticons, see our recommended emoticons  page).
• 5. Establish some EMPATHIC resonance with the other person first....agreeing or joining him in his thoughts or feelings, before moving away and further explaining your point of view. Don't start by putting him on the defensive. Let him know you hear him.
• 6. Be aware that due to your personal history, and the fears or desires that you hold in regard to the other person, that you may misinterpret his or her message. If you're not sure about his or her meaning or intent, communicate your confusion. ASK before you make assumptions which may not be accurate, and before you treat those assumptions as if they are fact.
• 7. Take RESPONSIBILITY for your part in the conflict, and try to find and express the part of yourself that generally regrets the role you played, and wishes to meet the other halfway. If you know you are overreacting, acknowledge it (and the past baggage you carry). APOLOGIZE...honestly and sincerely.
• 8. DON'T HIT below the belt. If you know the other person's vulnerabilities, stay away from them, as tempted as you may feel to score a bullseye. If you need to do so, write a long email message targetting the other person headon, then delete it...or bitch to your offline friends. Don't send a response until you have at least some investment in ending the battle, rather than merely intensifying it.
• 9. If you need TIME to work through your raw feelings or clarify your reactions and thoughts or to feel ready to communicate openly with the other person, take the time. Take as long as you need. If you can. Let the other person know you need time out to process, and will return when you've cooled off and are ready to engage in a real attempt at resolution.
• 10. Don't get lost in the content of the argument. Stay close to how you feel and how the other person feels. Aim to heal the hurt or angry FEELINGS rather than change the other's perception of reality. He/she may not be able to see your point of view.
• 11. If a part of you seeks the other person's validation, take the time with yourself to VALIDATE yourself, and let go of attachment to their response. If you need some validation from others before you can do such letting go, then communicate with a friend who is not involved in the conflict and seek validation from him or her.
• 12. Know when to LET GO. You may not be able to change another person's perceptions or interpretations of a situation, and may have to validate yourself or look for validation elsewhere if the other person can't fully grasp your point of view. 
• Aim to ACCEPT your differences and your separateness, to let go of the issue, to say, "Ok, this is my experience, and this is yours, and we're not going to get anywhere by pursuing this further. We have different perceptions and memories. So I'll allow you to exist with a different reality than my own reality, and hopefully we can both move on...."

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Thanks to the listmembers of  NetDynam,
and especially Roy Winkler, for inspiring the above guidelines.