DISCUSSION LIST ON TURK* PEOPLES

TURKISTAN-L is a closed, unmoderated mailing list dedicated to the discussions on Turkestan (for the explanation of this term see below), the Turkic people and related topics, as outlined below. This introductory message provides general information on the purpose, scope and guidelines of the list, which will be helpful to the new subscribers and to those pondering/continuing a subscription. Please read it carefully and do not hesitate to contact the list administrator(s) listed below if you have any further questions.

HISTORY

TURKISTAN-L list was created in 9 May 1997 to serve as a communications tool for the information exchange on Turkestan by the (SOTA) Research Centre on Turkestan, Azerbaijan, Crimea, Caucasus and Siberia.

WEB-PAGE

Turkistan-L list does not have its own WEB Pages. You can visit SOTA's Web pages. In this pages you will find information on areas where Turkic people live, about Turkic Peoples history, culture and actual situation also useful links and some important items who were distributed to the list. (Archives). You are invited to visit this pages.

The adress of this pages: <http://www.turkiye.net/sota/sota.html>

THE LIST AND ITS GUIDELINES

Sec I.

TURKISTAN-L is a closed, unmoderated list and anyone interested and who is recommended by two current members may join it. The opinions expressed in the TURKISTAN-L by its owners and members or subscribers do not necessarily reflect the official point of view of SOTA. The opinions expressed here are of their respective authors/writers.

Sec II.

The word in Turkistan refers to "Land of Turks" and this refers in the most general way to the meaning of "Turk" as can be seen in dictionaries and history books.

The land Turkistan was named after the people called "Turks". It is for those people, their descendants, their countries, their culture, their history, their failings, their successes, their joys; in short, their past, present and future that TURKISTAN-L is about.

TURKISTAN-L is a medium for discussing Turkish/Turkic-related (views and opinions on) culture and arts (literature, culinary, music, dances, songs, poetry, paintings); history, religion; economics and business; politics, humanitarian aid and refugees; education, science and research; travel, tourism and geography; sports and entertainment; human rights and supporting of democracy in the Turkish/Turkic nations.

Meanwhile, TURKISTAN-L is not for sending digests of posts, chain letters, personal or Web site advertisements, i.e. posts not related or contributing to Turkestan and the list. If unsure, please contact the list administrators.

Sec III.

The official languages of TURKISTAN-L are primarily English and Turk* languages and dialects. Contributors from any Turk* country may use their native languages, however, the use of English is encouraged. Famous quotes and expressions in other languages are also allowed (Russian, French, etc.), but must be kept to the minimum in order to make the postings understandable to the other members. Remember, the list is for everyone and is about Turkic Peoples of the World!

Sec IV.

The TURKISTAN-L list members are of many ethnicities, religious, political and other beliefs. The purpose of TURKISTAN-L is to provide a medium for all to discuss these interests, and be beneficial to the community of Turkic Peoples at large.

Sec V.

Despite the non-moderation of this list, these rules must be *strictly* followed to ensure high quality discussions. The subscription to the list may be revoked, with or without notice, if any of the rules is broken (especially during the first months of existence of the list). As time

passes by, we might gradually revise all the guidelines. If necessary the listoners can decide to place the list under moderation. The reasons for this will made public via the list.

1) Posts must be related to the purposes of TURKISTAN-L list as outlined above;

2) No excessively polemical postings; obscene plagiarism and academic dishonesty, including the deliberate misattribution of quotations from historical documents and figures;

3) No posts containing profanity0 or excessive rudeness; posts that lack appropriate civility. While well-placed heckles are acceptable, flamewars are not. No posts containing personal abuse, slander or libel;

4) Propagation of national, religious, racial, sexual, or ethnic hostility or animosity -- including posts openly justifying violence, war crimes, or ethnic cleansing;

5) Binary files are NOT permitted, even if they are related to Turkestan. However, pointers to a Web site, USENET Newsgroup or other mailing list or archive may be used.

6) Upon removal from the list only one appeal in a single e-mail message will be accepted. No appeals on behalf of others, nor collective appeals will be taken into consideration. Owners of the list must reply within three (3) weeks after the appeal is made, upholding or reversing the removal decision. A removal decision is made and administered by the list owners, mainly by taking into consideration complaints from other list members.

THINGS TO KNOW

a) Only list members can post to this list, i.e. non-members wishing to post anything must mail it to one of the members to be forwarded to the list.

  1. To SUBscribe, or UNSubscribe, e-mail directly to the ListServer at:

<majordomo@turkistan.org> with appropriate command(s) described below. No complaints other than ones connected with technical problems of the ListProc and/or abuse of the list by members will be taken into consideration.

IT'S UP TO YOU TO LEARN/REMEMBER THESE BASIC COMMANDS

c) The panel of owners can be extended only with consent of current owners, and is not subject to discussion. Moderation of the list might be applied if deemed necessary anytime.

d) DO NOT give out the e-mail addresses of the members, as well as don't use the "CC:" line to send a message intended to the list to a non-member of Turkistan. However it's fine if the receiver knows about TURKISTAN-L, i.e. used to be a member. TURKISTAN and CENASIA are two different lists, they should not have cross-posted messages.

e) Owner(s) of the list have the last word in potential disputes/problems.

BASIC COMMANDS OF THE LIST

In order to subscribe/unsubscribe you will need to write the following in the _body_ of your mail addressed to <majordomo@turkistan.org>:

SUBscribe TURKISTAN-L

UNSubscribe TURKISTAN-L

***DON'T include your name and/or e-mail address when UNSubscribing.***

NOTE: If you need more information on specific commands for using majordomo please send a message to <majordomo@po.databack.com> with "HELP" command in the body.

To post to the TURKISTAN-L mailing list, send e-mail to

<TURKISTAN-L @turkistan.org> (without the angular brackets)

which then will distribute it to all the members. You message will be posted immediately or depending on the Internet "traffic."

________________________________________________________________________

If your mail bounces repeatedly, you may be removed from the list with or without notification. In that event, it is up to you to re-subscribe once your mail system becomes operational.


COPYRIGHT issues: Everything written in TURKISTAN-L Discussions List is protected under International and US copyright laws. The law does not require to append the copyright notice to the end of the work, although to enhance the importance of the subject, it is advised to do so. NO DISCUSSION TOPICS, CONTENTS OR LETTERS ARE TO BE POSTED, DISCUSSED OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY WAY IN OTHER MEDIUMS WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE OWNER (THE WRITER). FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN SUSPENSION FROM THE LIST(S).

RECOMMENDATIONS

As noted above, because the TURKISTAN-L list is unmoderated, you are urged to think carefully about what you post. At the same time, participation in these discussions, especially by new list members, is strongly encouraged. Remember, this is a discussion list, which consists of your opinions.

It is recommended that new members spend a few days just listening to the discussions on the list, to get the "hang of" the discussion process, and to get to know the individuals involved. Then they are encouraged to jump in with quality postings and debate. It is up to all members to see that the list gets used, that discussions are constructive, conducted with

mutual courtesy and due respect, etc.

It is also helpful, if the first message of the new member would be a brief introduction to let the subscribers know about her/him some more.

Also, you will eventually get to know some of the people. The list is worldwide and includes Turkestanis (and other ethnicities) from all corners of the world. They are drawn from a variety of different cultural/religious/political/linguistic backgrounds. This is your opportunity to meet diffrent Turk peoples from numerous diverse backgrounds and communicate with them. In this respect, it is a very unique medium.

At TURKISTAN-L, we try to continue our tradition of mutual courtesy and understanding, and "Respect in Every Aspect!" In order to maintain high signal to noise ratio or simply in everyone's best interest, we urge everyone to follow these simple guidelines.