Activities of the Usability and User Experience Community
Usability e-List

About the list Rules of conduct

The STC UUX Community hosts an e-list for discussion of usability, user experience and technical communication.

What is the Usability mailing list (stcusesig_l@mailman.stc.org)?

The Usability SIG mailing list (listserv) is software that allows any member of the SIG to join a discussion group. Messages posted to the group are sent to your email address. You can reply to a message, or start a new topic of your own.

What is the purpose of the Usability mailing list?

The purpose of the stcusesig_l mailing list is to provide a forum for technical communicators who:

• Have an interest in usability
• Are moving into the usability field from another job
• Want to learn some tips and tricks
• Want advice from people working in the field

Who can participate in the Usability mailing list?

The Usability SIG mailing list is for the use of STC members and non-members who are interested in usability topics.

Who do I contact to discuss problems or questions about  the mailing list?

Contact Adrian Howard for questions or comments about the Usability mailing list.

What topics are appropriate for the Usability Mailing List?

Any topic related to usability, user interface design, usability testing and evaluation, or human factors issues is fair game for the Usability mailing list. Some example topics are:

• Usability testing
• Consistency in user interfaces
• Icon design
• Web usability
• Layout and design of windows and dialogs
• Task analysis
• User profiling
• How to conduct customer visits

How do I (un)subscribe from the list?

You can subscribe and unsubscribe from the list by submitting your details on the Usability SIG Mailman page.

Rules of conduct for the list

What are the general rules for email netiquette?

Above all, messages should be private to participants in the mailing list. Don't forward messages without getting the originator’s permission. One goal of this mailing list is provide a supportive environment for people interested in learning about usability and sharing information that could help others.

• Don’t FLAME other users. Think before you write. Your message will convey your persona. You can argue, be critical, and express strong opinions, but do not embarrass, harass, or get into verbal wars. If a message upsets you, take a few minutes to calm down and then write a measured, clear response.

• Don't ask questions like: "Can you send me everything you know about usability?" Participants in the mailing list are likely to view this kind of question as a "lazy inquiry".

• Use message headers (subject lines) that are brief and clear.

• Provide some context for your replies. It is very helpful to extract a small portion of a message and use it in your reply to set the context for readers.

• Avoid using ALL CAPS in message. The use of all capital letters is often viewed as screaming at a user. Of course, the use of capitalization is OK for emphasis.

• Be professional and careful what you say about other people in the mailing list. While we ask that Usability SIG messages are private to the mailing list, it is possible that they could be forwarded.

• Be careful about the use of sarcasm and humor. Humor can be too subtle. Smiley faces may be helpful, but keep in mind that many people are not up on all the subtleties of smiley faces (also known as emoticons).

• Give credit to all quotes, references, and sources. Let people know what is your opinion and what is fact, research, or opinion of others.

• Do not flame minor errors like typos or grammar.

• Don't be pompous.

What will get me thrown off the mailing list?

There are several things that will get a person thrown off the mailing list: insulting behavior, blatant adverting for personal or corporate services, personal attacks, any form of harassment to members, disregard of members' privacy, or any illegal acts (for example, copyright violations or libel), or violation of any STC policy. The managers of the mailing list will inform anyone who is in jeopardy of being thrown off by a personal email message and will ask him/her to refrain from any egregious behaviors.

Can I advertise usability services for my company?

No. The mailing list is not for advertising commercial services. You cannot post messages that advertise consulting or training. Since this listserv is sponsored by the STC, a non-profit organization, we must avoid marketing and advertising messages. If you have any questions about what is appropriate, please send email to Adrian Howard (adrianh@quietstars.com). Posting notices about commercial services is a serious violation of STC UUX policies.

Can I post messages about non-profit courses, non-profit seminars or conference tutorials and workshops?

Yes, you can post messages about non-profit and conference events. The messages should be short, list the location of the event either in the subject line or at the top of the message.

Can I submit job opportunities and course or seminar announcements?

Yes, messages regarding jobs related to usability are welcome and encouraged. Some job messages ask for resumes. Make sure that you don't try to send a resume with the REPLY ALL button on your email system or everyone on the Usability and User Experience mailing list will see your resume. This has embarrassed some people on other mailing lists.

How long can my messages to the Usability SIG mailing list be?

Generally messages should be between 1-3 screens long. If you have a long message (3-8 screens or so), please alert the reader, for example, by putting "(LONG)" at the end of the subject line. If you have something REALLY long like a chapter that you want people to review, put a short excerpt of your document in your mail message and invite those who are interested to send you private email requesting the document.

Can I send an attachment to the list?

Attachments are not permitted on the Usability SIG mailing list. If you have something interesting, you can post a URL to the document or ask people to request it from you individually.

Can I use information from the Usability SIG mailing list in other forums (for example, in UTEST, in a corporate style guide, in a book)?

This question gets complex since it involves copyright and fair use issues. The safest guideline here is to always ask permission from the creator of a message if you want to use any message content for other purposes (for example, a book chapter, or seminar). Direct quotes should always receive proper attribution and keep in mind that the submitter of the message retains copyright. If someone submits a paper for review, for example, it would be a copyright violation to make copies of that paper for others at your company. Also, we want to protect the privacy of people in the SIG and make it a safe place to get review feedback on ideas, drafts of papers, or course notes.

Are there any problems submitting my messages through my corporate email?

Some firms are touchy about their employees putting opinions on the net. If you are sending from your corporate email you should consider the following issues:

1. Are you representing your company when you submit messages?

2. Do you have the authority to represent your firm through these messages?

3. Can you use your company or organization's logo or name on your messages?

4. Would your comments affect any of your company's relationships with another company (for example, if you mention a product that your company is about to buy would that cause any problems)?

Some mailing list participants put a disclaimer at the bottom of their mail messages saying that the comments in the message do not represent the official policy of their company. Since corporate email is often considered company property, this could be a touchy issue.