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Newsgroups: rec.sport.skating.ice.figure,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: Introduction and Netiquette
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From: sjl@croak.cs.yale.edu (Sandra Loosemore)
Date: 19 Aug 1997 12:40:28 -0400
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Summary: This article is part of the FAQ list for (amateur)
 competitive	figure skating.  This section covers an introduction to
 	rec.sport.skating.ice.figure and netiquette for that group.
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Archive-name: sports/skating/ice/figure/introduction
Last-modified: 19 Aug 1997

                      COMPETITIVE FIGURE SKATING FAQ:
                      ===============================

                        INTRODUCTION AND NETIQUETTE
                        ===========================

This article is part of the FAQ list for (amateur) competitive figure
skating.  This section covers an introduction to
rec.sport.skating.ice.figure and netiquette for that group.

This FAQ list is posted monthly to rec.sport.skating.ice.figure.  Send
corrections and suggestions to loosemore-sandra@cs.yale.edu.

This file is available in both plain-text and HTML/Web versions.  You can
get to the HTML version from SkateWeb Figure Skating Page at URL:

http://frog.simplenet.com/skateweb/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table of Contents

  * [1] What is rec.sport.skating.ice.figure all about?
  * [2] I'm a participant skater.  Should I post in
    rec.sport.skating.ice.recreational or rec.sport.skating.ice.figure?
  * [3] What FAQ lists are there for this group, and where can I find
    them?
  * [4] The news posting software at my site is broken.  Is there an
    e-mail address for submissions to this group?
  * [5] How do I find old articles from this newsgroup?
  * [6] Help! What does [some jargon] mean?
  * [7] Is there any special netiquette for this group I should be aware
    of?
  * [8] Don't you think Nancy should have beaten Oksana at the Olympics?
  * [9] Is [skater X] gay?  Are [skater Y] and [skater Z] involved
    off-ice?
  * [10] Why are you people being so nasty and critical about all these
    wonderful skaters?
  * [11] What's this about "trolls"?
  * [12] What other things are considered inappropriate here?
  * [13] Can anybody send me a video tape of [some televised skating
    event]?
  * [14] Any hints for taking photographs at skating events?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] What is rec.sport.skating.ice.figure all about?

    Here is the official charter for this newsgroup:

        This group provides a forum for discussion of amateur and
        professional figure/artistic skating, including figures,
        freestyle, pairs, dance, and precision team skating.  Articles
        from both participant and spectator or fan perspectives are
        appropriate in this group.

        Appropriate topics for discussion in this group include:  amateur
        and professional skating competitions and exhibitions; activities
        of competitive and professional skaters; rules and organizations
        governing the sport of figure skating; and equipment, technique,
        training, and instruction issues.

        While the primary focus is figure/artistic skating on ice,
        discussion of corresponding inline or roller skating topics is
        not precluded.

[2] I'm a participant skater.  Should I post in
rec.sport.skating.ice.recreational or rec.sport.skating.ice.figure?

    There's some overlap in between the groups, and where to post depends
    on your skill level, your own attitude about your skating, and the
    specific topic you want to post about.  The recreational skating
    group is the place to discuss topics related to learning to skate and
    basic skills.  Discussion of more advanced technique and topics
    relating to testing or competing are welcome in
    rec.sport.skating.ice.figure.  Cross-posting is acceptable for
    articles relevant to both groups.

    It's a good idea to "lurk" for a while in either group before you
    post.  This way you will get an idea of the appropriate topics and
    style of discussion in each group.

[3] What FAQ lists are there for this group, and where can I find them?

    This article is the first of five FAQ lists devoted to competitive
    figure skating:

      * Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: Introduction and Netiquette
      * Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: Rules and Regulations
      * Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: Technical Elements
      * Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: Skating People and Events
      * Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: References

    You may also be interested in the FAQ lists for the other groups in
    the rec.sport.skating hierarchy:

      * Welcome to rec.sport.skating.*
      * Skating Book FAQ
      * Recreational Figure Skating FAQ list
      * Conventional (Quad) Roller Skating FAQ
      * Inline skating FAQ list

    FAQ lists are posted periodically (usually monthly) to the relevant
    newsgroups, as well as to news.answers.  You can also get copies of
    all Usenet FAQ lists by anonymous FTP from host rtfm.mit.edu, or by
    WWW from URL

    http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/FAQ-List.html

    You can also get to the skating-related FAQ lists from the Figure
    Skating WWW Page at URL

    http://frog.simplenet.com/skateweb/

[4] The news posting software at my site is broken.  Is there an e-mail
address for submissions to this group?

    Yes.  You can post to rec.sport.skating.ice.figure by e-mailing to
    rec.sport.skating.ice.figure-news@newsbase.cs.yale.edu.  (But
    although you can SEND messages to the newsgroup this way, you cannot
    RECEIVE messages from the newsgroup by e-mail.)

[5] How do I find old articles from this newsgroup?

    The default behavior of many news readers is to hide articles that
    you've already read.  Read the documentation for your news reader (or
    ask your system administrator) to find out how to turn this off.

    For a longer-term archive, try using the searchable Dejanews archive
    at http://www.dejanews.com.

[6] Help! What does [some jargon] mean?

    Here are some general abbreviations used all over Usenet:

    FAQ
        frequently asked questions
    IMHO
        in my humble opinion
    RTFM
        read the [friendly] manual (or FAQ list!)
    BTW
        by the way
    LOL
        laughing out loud
    ROTFL
        rolling on the floor laughing

    And here are some terms specific to skating:

    patch
        practice of compulsory figures (figure eights and so on); so
        called because each skater is assigned a "patch" of clean ice to
        work on.
    MITF
        "moves in the field"; a series of footwork patterns that are part
        of the USFSA test program for skaters.  (In Canada, there is a
        similar test track called "skating skills".)
    OSP
        Some people use this term incorrectly to refer to what is now
        called the "original dance".  It used to be called the "original
        set pattern dance" and have somewhat different rules.
    precision skating
        A competitive event where teams of skaters perform
        drill-team-like maneuvers on the ice, like pinwheels and
        intersecting lines.  Jumps, spins, and lifts are not allowed;
        instead the emphasis is on footwork, maintaining precise
        formations, and doing complex transitions between formations.
        Now officially called "team skating", but many people still refer
        to it as "precision".
    fours
        Fours is to pairs what pairs is to singles skating.  A fours team
        consists of two men and two women who execute singles and pairs
        elements in unison as well as death spirals, lifts, etc that
        involve all four members of the team.  It used to be a regular
        competitive event up until 1950 or so, but is now seen primarily
        in exhibitions.
    adagio skating
        Show-style pair skating, with the emphasis on extended lifts and
        other "tricks" like Detroiters and head-bangers that aren't
        allowed in eligible competition, and little or none of the
        side-by-side jumps or spins that are expected in
        competitive-style pair skating.
    hydroblading
        A training technique developed by choreographer Uschi Keszler.
        The skaters do very deep edges in a near-horizontal position low
        to the ice, holding on to something like a water bottle to
        support themselves (hence the name).  Some skaters, notably ice
        dancers Shae-Lynn Bourne & Victor Kraatz, incorporate these
        movements into their competition and/or exhibition programs.
    chack
        (verb) refers to medal-winning (or otherwise memorable)
        performances that are cut from the TV broadcast of an event; in
        honor of Michael Chack, whose bronze-medal free skate at 1993 US
        Nationals was "chacked".  Can also be used reflexively; a skater
        who turns in a poor performance may chack himself out of a
        broadcast or competition.  Yet another usage refers to
        pre-emption of an entire network skating broadcast by a local TV
        station.
    manley
        a stunning upset by a comparatively unknown or unhyped skater who
        manages to turn in a spectacular performance at the best possible
        time.  Also known as a wylie, rudy, or galindo, after more recent
        examples.
    woetzel
        refer both to the act of tripping over one's toe picks and
        falling on one's face, and the cut/scar one gets on the chin by
        doing so; in honor of pair skater Mandy Woetzel, who had such a
        fall at the 1994 Olympics.
    TOC
        The "Tour of Champions", also known as the "Tom Collins Tour",
        the "Campbell's Soups Tour", "Soup 'n' Skate", etc.  It's the
        show that goes on a lengthy tour of the US following the world
        championships.  It features a large cast of both eligible and
        professional skaters.  This tour is produced by Tom Collins
        Enterprises.
    SOI
        "Stars on Ice", also known as the "Discover Card Tour".  It's a
        major ice show that tours the US in the winter season, featuring
        a smaller ensemble cast of elite professional skaters.  This tour
        is produced by IMG.

    Technical terms for jumps, spins, etc. are defined in the Technical
    Elements FAQ.

[7] Is there any special netiquette for this group I should be aware of?

    Rec.sport.skating.ice.figure is an unmoderated newsgroup, which means
    that nobody has to approve the articles you post before they appear.
    Instead, we rely on the voluntary cooperation of contributors to keep
    the signal-to-noise ratio high.

    Here are some specific hints for being a good net.citizen.  Don't be
    put off by the length of this list!  Most of these suggestions are
    just common sense.

      * Some people like to watch tape-delayed competitions on TV without
        knowing the results in advance.  If you are posting competition
        results, use a subject line that clearly indicates that your
        article contains results (e.g., use the words "RESULTS" or
        "SPOILER").  Don't give away the results in the subject line!

      * Many readers won't have the slightest idea who you're talking
        about if you refer to skaters by nicknames like "Plate O' Grits"
        or "Beaver Teeth".  Even if you have to guess at the spelling,
        use their real names.  Also, avoid obscure abbreviations like
        "K&P", or using first names only unless you've explicitly
        established which Brian or Oksana you're referring to.

      * Make an effort to get your facts right.  A lot of discussion in
        this newsgroup is based on opinion, but informed opinions tend to
        be taken more seriously than those based on misinformation or
        ignorance.

      * Don't spread unverified second-hand rumors or
        malicious/defamatory gossip about skaters (or their coaches or
        parents).  It's almost impossible to stamp out mistaken or
        exaggerated rumors once they get started on the net, so don't
        start them.

      * Before you post an article ripping some skater's character to
        shreds simply because they were caught on-camera making some
        less-than-tactful remark, or even just looking surly backstage,
        consider whether you might be jumping to the wrong conclusions.
        The glimpses we see on TV of skaters' personalities and lives are
        too brief and too often taken completely out of context to tell
        us what they were REALLY thinking.

      * Keep a sense of perspective and tolerance; don't go off the deep
        end just because someone disagrees with you or insults your
        favorite skater.  Articles that present calm and well-reasoned
        arguments are much more effective than name-calling, nasty
        sarcasm, and the electronic equivalent of shouting.  Rudeness
        reflects badly on you and people will tend not to take anything
        you say very seriously.  If something said here upsets you, wait
        until you calm down before composing a response.

      * Respect the rights of others to hold differing or contrary
        opinions.  It is not your duty to "convince" anyone, nor to act
        as a "spokesman" for a particular skater or cause.  If you
        disagree with an opinion, organize your thoughts and state your
        case in one posting, rather than responding to every article or
        simply repeating the same theme over and over.  When
        disagreements on facts or interpretations do surface, it is often
        more rewarding to shift to an e-mail interchange with a specific
        individual than to continue jousting in public.

      * When discussing why you like your favorite skater, you shouldn't
        have to resort to deprecating or maligning all of his/her
        competitors.  People tend to be offended by this line of argument
        rather than convinced by it.

      * Posting articles that have little or no content beyond rude
        personal insults directed at skaters will only make YOU look like
        a total jerk.  And, before you post an angry rebuttal to someone
        else's article of this type, consider that it may have been a
        deliberate "troll" intended to stir people up.

    And, here are some reminders about general Usenet netiquette:

      * Before you post a request for information, check to see whether
        your question has already been answered in one of the FAQ lists,
        or if the information is available on the web.

      * If you're posting to ask for information that is not likely to be
        of general interest, ask people to respond to you by private
        e-mail instead of by posting to the net.  Likewise, use private
        e-mail for personal chit-chat with other group members instead of
        posting it.

      * Don't post "me too" followup articles that don't add anything new
        to the discussion.

      * Avoid quoting the entire article you're following up to.  Some
        amount of context is desirable, but try to trim and/or summarize
        as much as possible.  Be careful to attribute quoted material to
        the right people -- people become understandably upset when their
        name is associated with someone else's statements.  When in
        doubt, it's better to trim off attributions entirely.

      * Your messages will be more readable if you keep your lines less
        than 80 characters wide.  Stick with plain ASCII text; don't try
        to post non-text word processor files, images, or other binary
        files.

      * Remember that Usenet is a public forum.  You should probably use
        the same discretion about what you say here as you would in print
        or on TV.

    Finally, a word about a Usenet tradition that has taken on a life of
    its own in r.s.s.i.f:  Godwin's Law.  This started out as a general
    observation about Usenet culture: "As a Usenet discussion grows
    longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler
    approaches one."  There is a tradition in many newsgroups that
    dragging Hitler into an argument is a sure sign that all rational
    discussion of the topic has been exhausted, so the thread is over by
    common consent and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost
    whatever argument was in progress.  In r.s.s.i.f, this has been taken
    one step further -- when an argument has degenerated into pointless
    name-calling, somebody will often post a followup mentioning Hitler
    in a tongue-in-cheek way just to signal the end of the discussion.

[8] Don't you think Nancy should have beaten Oksana at the Olympics?

    This topic has already been discussed so much on the net that most
    people here have totally lost interest in reading any more about it.
    Anything worthwhile that could be said about the topic has already
    been said, over and over again.  Please spare us any more!

    The same goes for rehashing "The Battle of the Brians" at the 1988
    Olympics, or any other close or controversial competition.
    Generally, arguments about who "should have" won some competition (or
    complaints that your favorite skater "was robbed" of a medal) that
    continue for weeks, months, or even years afterwards are tedious and
    boring, and should be avoided.

    Other recurring topics that have already been done to death:

      * Arguments that the rules or scoring system must be broken because
        your favorite skater didn't win, or because you don't understand
        how they work.  See the Rules and Regulations FAQ.

      * Similar complaints about the judging.  Judges do a difficult job
        under stressful conditions, and often have to interpret ambiguous
        rules or contradictory guidelines.  Mistakes do happen, but
        outright incompetence or deliberate attempts to manipulate the
        results are rare.

      * Discussion of Nancy Kerrigan's personality, teeth, love life,
        relationship with Mickey Mouse, etc.  More generally, avoid
        speculation or comment about the personal life, sexual
        orientation, physical appearance, etc. of various skaters.
        Please keep the discussion focused on skating rather than
        personalities and gossip.

      * Complaints about skaters who don't sign autographs or mingle with
        fans.  Don't assume this is an ego/personality thing -- it's
        reasonable for skaters not to want to be distracted while they're
        working, or it may be the result of general security directives
        issued by the event management.

      * Complaints about Dick Button or other skating commentators.  The
        general consensus is that they're all annoying (in varying
        degrees), but they do provide some useful information to newbies.

      * Lists of favorite skaters, best programs, etc. There's nothing
        wrong with posting on these topics, but do include some
        discussion of WHY these are your favorites instead of just
        listing them.  If you want to conduct a poll, ask people to
        respond by e-mail instead of posting.

      * Arguments about the proper spelling of names transliterated from
        Russian or other languages that don't use the Roman alphabet, or
        about whether names of Chinese skaters (e.g., Chen Lu) should be
        given with the surname first or last.  There's no single
        definitive "right way" to do these things, and as long as
        everyone knows who you're talking about, it's not worth fighting
        over.

[9] Is [skater X] gay?  Are [skater Y] and [skater Z] involved off-ice?

    Whether they're gay or straight, it's rude to post speculation or
    gossip about skaters' private lives or off-ice relationships.  The
    consensus that has evolved over time in this newsgroup is that we
    don't discuss people's sexual orientation or personal life unless
    they have chosen to make some public statement about it themselves.

    Besides showing respect for the skaters' privacy, we also try to keep
    the focus of discussion here on skating rather than personal gossip
    about skaters.  It's reasonable to discuss such things in the context
    of how it relates to the skater's artistic choices, or whether/how it
    affects their public image or the career opportunities they are
    offered or choose to pursue, but we have a low tolerance for gossip
    for its own sake.

[10] Why are you people being so nasty and critical about all these
wonderful skaters?

    Critical discussion of what makes good and bad skating, in terms of
    both the technical and the entertainment or artistic aspects of the
    sport, is an essential purpose and function of
    rec.sport.skating.ice.figure.  We participate in this newsgroup
    because we enjoy serious discussion of these issues; and multiple
    points of view and diversity of opinion help to broaden our
    understanding of the sport in general.

    Elite-level skaters are entertainers and public figures as well as
    athletes.  Being judged and compared and viewed critically is all
    part of their job, the same as for performing artists in other
    fields.  If skaters were so thin-skinned that they couldn't deal with
    public commentary on their work, they wouldn't be in this business at
    all.

    Criticism is often part of discussions of why skaters didn't get
    better marks from the judges, or what they need to do to improve or
    be more competitive.  Such discussion isn't intended to be insulting
    or disrespectful to the skaters.  Besides, there are probably more
    articles here expressing praise, excitement, encouragement, or other
    positive opinions, than negative ones.

    Sometimes people argue that we shouldn't express criticism of skaters
    unless we could do a better job ourselves.  This isn't a very
    convincing argument.  After all, figure skating judges qualify by
    demonstrating that they are skilled at watching and evaluating figure
    skating, not at doing it.  It's possible to have a lot of technical
    knowledge about the sport even if you're physically incapable of
    doing it yourself.  Moreover, we are all qualified to express our
    opinions on whether we find skaters' performances entertaining or
    satisfying from an artistic point of view.

    Sometimes people are bothered by seeing criticism of skaters because
    they're more familiar with other online forums that have a more
    "fannish" orientation, and/or because it's their own favorite skater
    who is being criticized.  If you want to try to argue that the
    criticism is mistaken, feel free to join the fray, but you're
    unlikely to convince anybody just by whining that all is not
    sweetness and light here.

    On the other hand, nasty personal attacks directed at a skater's
    character -- as opposed to their skating -- are not appreciated in
    this newsgroup.  Mindless "skater X sucks" or "I hate skater Y"
    articles are not appropriate here, either; beware of trolls.

[11] What's this about "trolls"?

    A "troll" is a deliberate attempt to cause disruption or start a
    flame war by posting misinformation, personal attacks, or outrageous
    claims.  People who post trolls want to stir people up and provoke a
    response, and the best way to deal with them is simply to ignore
    them.  They'll go away if they don't get the reaction they want.

    One notorious example of a "troll": claims that Nicole Bobek is
    Australian, Kristi Yamaguchi is Mexican, etc.  Articles containing
    rude remarks about the (presumed) sexual orientation of various
    skaters are almost always "trolls", too.

    In general, be suspicious of articles that contain nothing but
    inflammatory, rude, and offensive comments about skating or skaters,
    that make accusations about conspiracies or have some other obvious
    non-skating, political agenda.  Some other warning signs that an
    article may be a "troll" are if it originates from an anonymous
    posting server or has an invalid return e-mail address, or if it's
    from an obvious "newbie" to the group who is apparently more
    interested in insulting people than in discussing the sport of
    skating.  Again, it's better to let these threads die a quick death
    rather than to try to refute them.

[12] What other things are considered inappropriate here?

      * Articles that don't fall within the charter of the newsgroup:
        "Spam", chain letters, "make money fast" schemes, commercial
        solicitations, $250 cookie recipes,  etc.

      * Articles whose primary focus is gay-bashing, accusations of
        racism, or other similarly volatile topics, rather than skating.
        Past experience has shown that discussions on these topics tend
        to quickly degenerate into emotional flamefests filled with
        hysterical ranting, appeals to people's religious beliefs, and
        claims that cannot be substantiated in fact.

      * Anonymously posted articles.  In the past, there have been
        repeated instances where anonymous posting services have been
        abused by people who just want to cause disruption while avoiding
        any personal accountability for their actions.  As a result, to
        many people, the credibility of anonymously posted articles is
        automatically very low, regardless of their actual content.

      * Blatant commercial advertising.  Most people probably don't
        object to skating-related businesses announcing their presence on
        the net or contributing information to ongoing discussions, but
        sales pitches and advertising hype are objectionable to many
        people.

    In general, it is a waste of everybody's time to post followups
    complaining about or responding to inappropriate articles.
    "Spam"-type incidents should be discussed in
    news.admin.net-abuse.misc only.  In other cases, it's better to
    complain directly to the original poster by e-mail.  (One technique
    that has worked in other newsgroups is to send a copy of the FAQ list
    to people who've posted inappropriate articles.)  In extreme cases,
    try e-mailing a polite note to the system administrator at the
    abuser's site.

[13] Can anybody send me a video tape of [some televised skating event]?

    Be cautious about posting requests like this.  Copying and shipping
    tapes is a hassle and it's unreasonable to expect random people on
    the net to do this for you as a favor.  Also, keep in mind that
    making tapes of televised events for other than your own personal
    viewing is technically a copyright violation, and the more organized
    and large-scale your tape-copying activity is, the more likely you
    are to get into legal trouble for doing it.

    Try to find tapes from commercial sources when possible.  E.g.,
    high-quality tapes of US Nationals, Skate America, Worlds, etc.  are
    sold by Video Sports at 1-800-872-1996 or http://www.skatetape.com/.
    You can rent videotapes of many of these events by mail from the
    CFSA; contact them at 613-748-5635 (x2521) for a catalog.  R&J Video
    at 209-476-0124 sells tapes of events including 1990, 1993, and 1996
    US Nationals.  Rainbo Sports at 1-800-752-8370 sells many popular
    commercial skating tapes.

    One caveat:  beware of commercial tapes produced by NBC Sports (such
    as their world championships compilations).  The performances have
    been dubbed over with some horribly generic imitation music because
    NBC is too cheap or lazy to get the rights to the music originally
    used by the skaters.

    Here are some other suggestions for tape-trading etiquette.

      * Do not e-mail requests for tapes to individuals who post here
        unless they have specifically offered to trade tapes.

      * If you know you will not be able to view or tape an event, try
        making advance arrangements with a friend or relative to tape the
        event for you instead of waiting until after the broadcast to try
        to find a copy.

      * Try to find tapes locally before you bother the entire net with
        requests.  Again, ask friends, relatives, and coworkers first.
        People who live near you may be willing to simply lend you their
        tapes, which is a lot less hassle than copying and shipping tapes
        long-distance.  Also, if you belong to a skating club, chances
        are others there also collect tapes, and/or the club may have a
        library of tapes.

      * If you must post a request for a tape, include "tape request" in
        your subject line so that people who aren't interested can skip
        your message.

      * Don't post "me too" requests; e-mail these to the person who
        posted the original request.  If someone is kind enough to share
        a tape with you, be prepared to share it with others as well.
        (One arrangement that has worked well in the past is a
        round-robin where the same master tape is passed around, instead
        of expecting one person to make copies for everyone.)

      * People may be more willing to share their tapes with you if you
        can trade them something from your own collection in return.
        It's common to offer reimbursement for the tape and postage, but
        this DOESN'T recompense people for their time in making the tape
        for you.

[14] Any hints for taking photographs at skating events?

    First of all, do not ever use a flash for skating photography.  You
    will be too far away from the skaters for it to make any difference
    for your pictures, and the flash could startle or blind the skaters
    and cause them to fall.  If you have a cheap instamatic-type camera
    that won't let you turn off the flash or adjust the exposure to take
    good pictures without one, you might as well leave it at home.

    The TV lights used at skating competitions are very bright.
    Professional shows and competitions usually have lighting between
    f2.8 and f5.6 at 1/250 second on 800 speed film.  One netter suggests
    taking a reading on white ice and then opening up two stops.  Other
    netters report getting good pictures even on 400 speed film.

    You will probably want to use a medium telephoto lens, e.g. 70-210mm.

