[10] WHAT IS COMMON SENSE AND HOW DO I USE IT? People tend to be more abusive or defensive while typing away on a computer keyboard. People are also more apt to being gulliable or confused by the text of others displayed on their screen. It is very important when you feel these exaggerated emotions to take a deep breath and think. Here are a list of 'common sense' notions that you should keep in mind when using SDF. 1. Don't tell your password to anyone. NO ONE, not even your god should know your password let alone ask you for it. 2. Check email headers if you get a slightly strange (or obviously strange) email from someone saying they are an 'admin' or 'info' or 'sysop' or 'support' or 'help'. In 100% of the cases you will find that these do not actually originate on SDF and most likely contain a malicious Microsoft virus. Delete these and do not forward them to anyone. 3. DON'T PANIC - If something goes wrong such as your URL disappears or your session 'freezes' or you get a strange error, be patient and wait .. if you just wait 5 minutes, the problem will have 'fixed itself' or disappeared. Also, check bboard: for system notices, maintenance schedules and resolved issues. 4. Becareful with emotions. Sometimes users can provoke each other to get a reaction, embarrass or hurt one another's feelings. The best medicine if you are being flamed or trolled is to 'walk away'. Also, if you meet someone on SDF and decide to meet in person, please use caution and follow these simple guidelines: a. Arrange a meeting in a public place. Don't invite someone to your home and don't go to a stranger's home. b. Meet in groups. Avoid meeting one on one with a stranger. c. If you are going to fall in love, please do so AFTER you have met. If the feeling isn't mutual, do not persist. d. Don't let your failed relationship affect your desire to be a part of SDF. 5. Don't compromise membership priviledges. If you are an ARPA member don't compile or install programs in /tmp or your home directory that would otherwise only be available to ARPA members. Most notably are programs that allocate sockets or allow a user to gain access to other ARPA only utilities. 6. Use /tmp for temporary storage, but be aware. Each client system has roughly 2GB of 'temporary' space available to all users. You may use this space, but use 'df /tmp' to check that you are not going to cause other users problems. Note, files in /tmp expire at around 60 days. // Last revision: 50031ce8800fe8d4e0866c70ef345d77 // [[basics|back]]