Message Attachments and Digest Mode - 1/26/2009

It is possible to view the PrintOwners List in digest format. We want you to know that we remove the attachments and HTML (HyperText Markup Language) formatting from any messages that are received this way. We do so for two reasons: 1) It helps keep the digest well-formatted, and 2) It keeps the file sizes more manageable. The unfortunate news is, attachments received from Phriday Photos, as well as other attachments, will not be viewable if you are using the digest mode.

Changes to List Statistics - 1/26/2009

Beginning immediately, we have changed the Top Contributors statistic shown on the website homepage. The old stats showed the total number of messages a list member had sent since statistics began being recorded. The new list statistic shows the number of messages that the Top 15 Most Active Contributors have sent in the current calendar year.

The Wisdom of Crowds

The PrintOwnersList.com is a hands-on tool that lets you benefit from the wisdom of the crowd. Here is where you'll find the business community and social network you need to survive and earn a good living in the printing business. Here is where you can benefit from the collective intelligence of hundreds of successful printers to help you solve your daily problems and challenges--and a place where you can share your areas of expertise and help others succeed.

Why Not Outsource Your Problems?

The next time you have a difficult problem, why not 'outsource' it to the PrintOwners List? Got a delicate issue with an employee, or are you trying to decide what kind of a new color copier to lease? Maybe you're having static problems in the press room, or you can't get a file to download properly. It doesn't matter what it is, there will always be someone who wants to help you solve your problem on the PrintOwners List.

Now ... You Can Benefit From 22,550,400 Hours of Experience!

There are more than 600 owner-members on the PrintOwnersList.com. The average owner has owned their Printing Firm for 12 years. The average owner also works over 60 hours per week. If you do the math, you'll discover the lifetime value of the knowledge base among members of the PrintOwnersList.com is more than twenty-two million hours! That's why we like to say, "All of us is smarter than any of us." 600 Printers x 12 Hour Workdays x 21.75 Days at work per month x 12 Months per year x 12 Years of ownership = 22,550,400 Total Hours at Work.

What Is a Wiki, and Why It Matters to You

There are two kinds of websites. Conventional websites provide a single source of information about a topic, product, or service. These websites are sometimes collectively referred to as Web 2.0. A wiki is a website that relies on the collaborative efforts of many contributors. The PrintOwners List is a wiki website because the content is provided by hundreds of contributing printers. We need your help to keep this website current. Is there helpful information that you would like to add to the PrintOwnersList.com?

How Wikinomics Can Help Your Printing Firm Grow

Wikinomics is the practice and method of using mass collaboration as a strategy for business success. Wikinomics encourages more efficient production and distribution of goods by encouraging individuals to come together and improve a given operation or solve a problem. Wikinomics is best facilitated when large numbers of people and/or business owners gather (ie. the PrintOwners List) to exchange ideas and solutions.

General Overview

• The PrintOwners List is an unmoderated list. All messages are forwarded automatically to everyone on the list without any intervention on the part of the List Manager or anyone else.
• The lists, although unmoderated, are not anonymous. Subscribers are expected to sign every message with their real name, company name, and city and state.
• When a new member joins the list we ask that they provide complete information about who they are (name, name of printing firm, address, city, state, phone). We do this so that we can verify that all members are real printers, not vendors, someone wanting to gather sales data or mischief makers.
• The List Manager reserves the right to remove anyone who, in its sole discretion, abuses the list.
• Only subscribers may post to the list, and only from the exact address from which they subscribed. Other posts will bounce.

Good Manners, Respect and Civility

• Keep your audience in mind when you're messaging the entire list. If your response would be more appropriately sent to just one individual, don't send it to the whole list. Send it privately instead.
• Flaming, personal attacks, or cyber-bullying will not be tolerated. Please avoid verbal hostility. In addition, judgmental and condescending tones are discouraged. If you disagree with someone and cannot be civil in your response, it is best not to say anything.
• Healthy discussion and opposing points of view are acceptable and encouraged, but keep the discussion issue oriented instead of personality oriented. All subscribers are expected to conduct themselves as professional ladies and gentlemen.
• Foul language is prohibited. Words like s**t, f**k, g*d d**m are never allowed in the subject line of messages and will be removed by the list manager if they are posted to the list. If someone gets a little over-exuberant in their mail message content and says something like "that really pisses me off" or "they can kiss my ass" it will be allowed--but it is strongly discouraged.
  Long-time list facilitator George Croft said it very well when he was discussing "Moderating Language on PONG." He said, "As has happened in the past, we have lost members as a result of language on a few recent threads. Some simply dropped off the list rather than have their mailboxes bombarded with BS and F-bombs they didn't want. In the future, please consider (our list) a living room and not a locker room. I'm sure there is no issue that can't be discussed without the graphic language. If you must, I'm sure using #@%&*! can get the point across."
• Please avoid discussions about politics and religion as these issues tend to polarize the list instead of uniting it. There is also a tendency for messages about politics and religious issues to become too negative and bitter. These types of discussions often deteriorate into flaming or personal attacks. Many list members find this offensive and sometimes they'll unsubscribe from the list as a sort of silent protest. Please keep our list strong by avoiding discussions that could easily deteriorate into an online brawl.

Courtesies

• When replying to a message, please include something (a quote, paraphrase, summary) so others understand to what you are replying. If you quote the original message, retain only what is pertinent and edit the text to the minimum necessary to convey the original idea. Edit and summarize as necessary. Use an ellipsis (…) or to indicate the removal of body text. Include the original poster's name and/or email address when possible.
• Use clear, concise subject headings. When replying to a message, please be sure the subject line of your email reflects the context of your response. Sometimes the content of a thread changes (thread drift) and the original subject line no longer matches the topic being discussed! When changing a subject line, it's often a good idea to include the previous subject, "(was [previous subject])" after the new subject.
• Make sure to remove people's signatures when you are replying to a message. This also helps prevent messages from getting too long.
• It is NEVER appropriate to take someone's private email you received and post it to the list without their expressed permission. Nor should list messages be forwarded, printed, or otherwise shared with others without the expressed permission of the original poster(s). Not only is it unethical, but it's also a copyright violation. Don't do it.
• Be tolerant of newcomers, who all make mistakes when they first join a list. If you feel you must correct someone, do it courteously and/or use private email.

Newcomers

• Lurk before you post for the first time. Observe what's going on, and what is and isn't appropriate material. Lurk for a week, and then "announce" your arrival with a posting that introduces yourself.
• PrintOwners subscribers are required to post an introduction within a week of subscribing. The introduction should at least include your name, company, address, phone, and number of employees. It's also a good idea to include information about what equipment you have, specialties, services you offer, and a brief overview of your printing firm. It really helps the rest of us feel like we get to know you a little.
• Be careful about using sarcasm, satire, tongue in check humor, etc. Often it's misinterpreted. Use lots of emoticons and/or abbreviations. Here is a short list:
  • Smiley faces :)
  • Winks ;-)
  • Grins or smiles <G>
  • Very big grin <VBG>
  • Laughing out loud <LOL>
  • Rolling on the floor laughing <ROTFL>
  
  Other abbreviations you'll see from time to time:
  • BTW - By the way
  • IMHO - In my honest opinion, in my humble opinion
  • FWIW - For what it's worth
  • AFAIK - As far as I know
  • FTLM - From the List Manager
    
    
• Short paragraphs are easier to read than longer ones.
• DON'T SHOUT. TEXT IN ALL UPPERCASE IS HARD TO READ AND IS CONSIDERED IMPOLITE. Do use normal capitalization. Separate your paragraphs with blank lines to make your message inviting to your potential readers.
• It's OK to use uppercase sparingly to EMPHASIZE a word or two. And * asterisks * surrounding a word can also be used to make a point.
• And finally, enjoy the communications with your colleagues! Few things are more rewarding than sharing ideas with peers in the same business (but who are not in your backyard). Enjoy the new resource … and please contribute!