Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 13:24:29 -0700 (PDT) >>>> info w2w-couples [Last updated on: Mon Jul 8 13:59:59 1996] This list is run by Les Addison and Sharon Snyder (who are not a couple). Les identifies as lesbian, Sharon as bisexual. When the list lesbiancouples was disbanded we discussed our desire to create a similar list; Roger Klorese agreed to host the list at QueerNet.Org and W2W-Couples was born. WHO WE ARE: W2W-Couples is a mailing list for women who want to discuss issues about being in a loving relationship with another woman. WHAT WE DO HERE: We created W2W-couples primarily as a place for those who are in a loving relationship and looking for a place to meet friends, work on relationship issues, give and receive support. Being in a current relationship is not a requirement for list membership. (Which also means you need not unsubscribe if you go through a breakup.) The list exists as a place where we can discuss the challenges of living in a heterosexist and homophobic world as women in loving relationships with other women. The women on this list may identify as lesbian, bisexual, or some other word they feel suits them. While this list is welcoming of women regardless of how they self-identify, discussion of current or projected relationships with men is not appropriate for this forum. (If you would like information on other forums in which to discuss relationships with men, you are welcome to write to Sharon for pointers to other lists.) The list owners understand "woman" to mean someone who self-identifies as a woman, and presents herself as a woman to the world. W2W-Couples is not an appropriate list for born-women who identify as men. The idea behind the mailing list is to create a space where women-loving women can discuss issues we face with others who will experience or who have already dealt with the same issues. These issues will include non/monogamy, merging vs. autonomy, sex, domestic partnership benefits, dealing with family members, anti-couple or pro-couple bias in our communities, networking with other couples, among other things. RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS ON THE LIST If you and your partner both wish to be on the list, we ask that the two of you discuss between yourselves how you will conduct yourselves on the list. We also ask that you treat your partner on the list with the same level of respect that you would treat another list member. SHARED E-MAIL ACCOUNTS The list owners strongly encourage you to have your own account. If you do share an account with your partner, and you both are list members, please be clear who is writing when you are posting. POSTING GUIDELINES We agree to talk respectfully to each other and about our choices. This list is not a place for flaming (attacking e-mail), or for acting out. W2WCouples is a "moderated" list, but the list-owners have no interest in limiting *content*. We do have an interest in keeping the discussion meaning_ful_, thought_ful_, and respect_ful_. We agree to keep the number of one-liner (very short messages) minimal. While one-liner messages may sometimes be appropriate, generally they tie up email and cause an unwanted burden of messages. It's often possible to combine several one-line thoughts into one e-mail. It will sometimes be appropriate to continue a discussion privately; the list-owners encourage you to do so when the conversation is no longer of general interest to the list members. Check your headers to make sure you are sending your message to the correct destination (w2w-couples@queernet.org for distribution to the list; an individual's e-mail address only when you wish the message to go privately). Please be mindful of your postings that they are appropriate to this list: that we exist as a forum to discuss isssues relevant to lesbian and bisexual women and our relationships. General informational, academic, political, humorous messages you want to forward, and ESPECIALLY CHAIN LETTERS are not welcome on this list. While a single message may be appropriate (please use your best judgement), in great number these tend to bog a list down. Please be mindful of posting on dead or dying topics. Please don't continue to post on a topic after you've already had your say, in an attempt to get more people to agree with you. Membership on this list is a _priviledge_, not a right. Please remember that, and that the list owners donate our time to keep this list going, and be respectful toward the list members and owners. In addition, members agree to: a) include as little copied text as possible. When quoting others, use only one or two sentences, and not an entire paragraph. Consider paraphrasing or summarizing rather than quoting. b) use clear subject lines to help others sort their mail. c) use small signature files (or none at all) d) never cross-post messages to other lists or non-members. (Cross posting is a practice of sending the same message to multiple addresses. This kind of posting often results in one person continuing a discussion from one list on another where the discussion is not particularly welcome or relevant.) HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: To join the W2W-Couples mailing list send a message to majordomo@queernet.org with a one line message subscribe w2w-couples your.email.address To subscribe to the digest version of W2W-Couples (digest subscribers receive one e-mail per day with all of the day's postings in it), send a message to majordomo@queernet.org with a one-line message subscribe w2w-couples-digest your.email.address To leave the list, send the one line message to Majordomo@queernet.org unsubscribe w2w-couples your.email.address If you need to speak with a list-owner about a list-related issue, please send email to w2w-couples-owner@queernet.org. Thank you, Sharon Snyder (sharon@queernet.org) Les Addison (laddison@sirius.com) co-list-owners for w2w-couples