Eternal September

Charter / moderation notes

CHARTER rb.rootbadger.september is RootBadger's permanent welcome room: a place where every month can be a new beginning and no sincere newcomer is treated as an interruption. PURPOSE The group exists to turn curious visitors into confident RootBadger members. It provides a friendly first destination for introductions, questions about how RootBadger works, help finding worthwhile groups, and practical discussion about building welcoming online communities. It also explores the history and continuing meaning of "Eternal September": the moment when online communities stopped having a predictable newcomer season and had to learn how to welcome people continuously. ON-TOPIC POSTS - Introductions from new and returning members. - Questions about posting, replying, subscribing, group culture, etiquette, and finding communities. - Member-written guides, tours, FAQs, and "where should I post this?" questions. - Invitations to active RootBadger discussions and groups, when accompanied by useful context rather than repetitive promotion. - Mentorship offers, newcomer check-ins, welcome projects, and ideas for improving membership and participation. - Thoughtful discussion of Eternal September, Usenet history, community growth, onboarding, moderation, and preserving culture without gatekeeping. - Monthly prompts, participation challenges, and stories about a member's first useful conversation online. - Constructive feedback about obstacles that make joining or posting confusing. POSTING EXPECTATIONS Use a clear subject line. Assume good faith from people learning the site. Answer basic questions directly or point to a useful resource. Explain local customs instead of demanding that newcomers somehow already know them. Disagreement is welcome; contempt for inexperience is not. Invitations to other groups must say what the group discusses and why the linked conversation may interest readers. OUT OF SCOPE Automated advertising, referral farming, repeated self-promotion, deceptive membership offers, scams, credential requests, mass-posted invitations, harassment, hazing, identity attacks, deliberate disruption, and posts whose only purpose is to mock newcomers are not permitted. This is not a catch-all support queue for private account or security matters; sensitive issues should be directed to the proper private channel. THE SEPTEMBER PRINCIPLE Nobody is required to arrive fully trained. Experienced members are expected to teach without condescension, and newcomers are expected to participate in good faith, listen when boundaries are explained, and help the next person once they find their footing.