Mgt. 584 Bulletin Board Instructions


Purpose

The bulletin board (BB) exists as an alternate discussion forum for class topics. You may "post" a message that continues in-class discussions or you may start new discussions. In your message, you can ask a question, reply to a question, critique what anybody said in class (including me), or relate a personal experience that is relevant to class topics. You may also use the BB to share information on computing issues of the course.

Reading the Bulletin Board -- New Format

As promised, the BB is no longer run over an E-mail medium. It is now incorporated as part of this web site. To read the BB messages, click here.

Posting BB Messages

Method 1 -- Your E-mail Software:
  1. Go into your E-mail software and type your message.*
  2. Mail it to: mgt584@vancouver.wsu.edu. Do not send it to tripp@vancouver.wsu.edu. The "tripp" account is for personally contacting me. The mgt584 account is for submitting papers and posting messages to the BB.
  3. Write in the subject line of your E-mail message "BB" and your first and last name. This tells me whether your E-mail message is for the BB or is a paper submission.
Method 2 -- Use Netscape's Mailer:

  1. Click below on the "Write BB Message" hypertext. Netscape's E-mail box appears already correctly addressed to the mgt584 account. OR.....
  2. In the Netscape menu bar, select "File," then "New Mail Message" or "Mail Document." The same E-mail box appears as above, but you must type in the correct address: mgt584@vancouver.wsu.edu. OR....
  3. At the bottom of each message in the bulletin board, click on the "Comments?" hypertext. Netscape's E-mail box appears already correctly addressed to the mgt584 account. Next ....
  4. Write in the subject line of your E-mail message "BB" and your first and last name. This tells me whether your E-mail message is for the BB or is a paper submission. It also will help if you "sign" your message with your full name. Next....
  5. Type your message in the large, composition box.* Then.....
  6. Click on "Send" or "SendNow."

WRITE BB MESSAGE

* -- Alternatively, you may write your message in a word processor and then "cut and paste" it into your E-mail composition screen. However, beware that with some word processors and some E-mail software (e.g., WordPerfect and Pine), quotation marks, apostrophes, and basic formatting do not copy correctly using cut-and-paste functions. For example, ^R and ^S symbols replace some quotation marks. Be sure to proofread whatever you cut and paste into your E-mail composition screen after you paste it. Also, never send your BB message as an attachment or with an attachment.


Confirmation

Approximately once per day, Susan or I will take all the BB messages sent to mgt584@vancouver.wsu.edu and post them on the bulletin board. You will know that you have successfully posted a message when you see it on out bulletin board pages. Do not request from Tom BB message receipts or BB message grade points. Tom will provide participation feedback to everyone mid-semester.

Writing Etiquette

Please observe "netiquette." Write your messages carefully when criticizing someone or something. Constantly remind yourself that verbal inflections are absent in E-mail messages. Thus, for example, your readers won't hear the sarcasm or the soothing tone you hear in your head when you write it. Always look for a worst possible tonal interpretation of your phrasing.

Note that I will extinguish all "flame wars" (i.e., ridiculously hostile E-mail exchanges) by not posting the messages and not giving credit. However, if the flame throwers would like to continue their discussion privately over only their own E-mail accounts, that is their business.


E-mail Addresses

If you are receiving BB messages at an E-mail address you use rarely, or that only can be used for work purposes, please contact Susan Melchert at melchert@vancouver.wsu.edu and offer a different E-mail address.