Special Interest Group Guidelines

[RandallS]

The Cauldron's Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are a board (or, in rare cases, a topic) for focused discussion/activity on a subject of special interest to a group of  our members. Special Interest Groups need not be directly related to Paganism or even to religion -- but those that aren't generally require good reasons for the staff to approve and set them up. Members may suggest special interest areas that might make a good SIG, but new SIG boards can only be created with the approval of a Co-Host. SIGs that are not active or that cause problems may be shut down without notice. SIG leaders are supervised by a staff member and serve at the pleasure of the Co-Hosts.

Special Interest Group boards are for focused discussion and thread drift will be less tolerated than it is most places on the message board. Each SIG will have a SIG Leader (or SIG Leaders) who will have limited moderator authority to keep the SIG board or thread on topic and to enforce minor rules violations. SIG Leaders are considered Cauldron Staff on their assigned SIG board.

Special Interest Group boards are generally open to posting by all members. However, some SIG Boards may be readable by all members but posting limited to some other special member group or even only visible to some other special member group. Unless the SIG name states otherwise, you can assume it is open to all members willing to follow the rules for SIGs and any special rules associated with the SIG (which are announced in a sticky "About this Sig" post on each SIG Board.

The following special rules apply to all Special Interest Group boards:
 
1. Topic and thread drift is unwelcome. Threads on SIG boards need to be clearly and directly related to the SIG interest area. Post within threads should be directly related to the thread topic. If a discussion sparks questions or ideas outside the narrow focus of the SIG or thread, feel free to start a new topic in elsewhere on the message board.

2. SIG boards are primarily for members of the particular SIG. Non-members (e.g. those not actively participating in the work/activities of the SIG) are normally welcome to ask questions, but not to tell SIG members how to do things, what to believe, etc. That is, SIG threads are not normally a place for outsiders to debate with SIG members.

[Edited to remove an extraneous second . - SP]