OrchidSafari CREDO


...to Speakers, to Members,
and to the Good of Orchids



For the first time in history, we are able to share in-process thought on a global basis, and we must acknowledge a tremendous development in the global intellect. Our ability to share knowledge, experience, speculation, humor, all the emotions, may in time do more to heal the world's wounds than all the governments and politicians of history.

With this in mind, OrchidSafari departs from a organizational rigidity to emphasize mutual sharing as its core policy. A forum is thus provided in which we as participants share seeds of thought on many topics. Moderators are utilized to expedite our stated subject discussions because that is an efficient way to conduct group affairs. All in attendance are invited to be participating members of the discussion. And all in attendance are expected to restrict comments during the formal discussion period (usually one hour) to matters directly pertaining to the announced subject.

"Participating" is the operative word. Our forum must have the essence of time if it is to work. We can all be brilliant in after thought, but the person leading each discussion should be neither second-guessed nor subject to autopsy. Each discussion leader should prepare carefully and present what he or she thinks or feels or, perhaps, knows. It's a matter of degree. There is no one right answer for most orchid issues. Variations in genera grown, our global variations in climate, individual means available to support a hobby, all of these things influence each participant. We should learn what interests someone else (in this case, our moderator, and comment upon the subject as our experience or even educated guesses permit, and then bring the session to a close. Only the author may "revise", and that limited to making clear the perspective of a remark. If someone feels strongly about another point of view, he or she will be invited to present a session in which that position can be explored. Under no circumstances should any person be taken to task after the fact by a non-participant. If we have something to say, let's be there in cyber form real time and say it, just like the moderator has to do.

All of us who participate in OrchidSafari should agree that ours is an interchange of reasoned thought - never senseless tirades for or against any point. Within our group, one might say, "I disagree with you", but not, "you are wrong". OrchidSafari is open to all who wish to share a common interest in orchids. It is a mutual interest family rather than a formal organization. As members of a family, we may find those whom we like more or less than others but we must never forget our family feeling of respect and love for all members.

Each member of the OrchidSafari family must feel secure in the knowledge that one's personal beliefs, preferences, lifestyle and conscience are secure from criticism and ridicule. Our OrchidSafari family celebrates personal differences as opportunities for learning and as points of great potential for personal development. No one - member, guest or drop-in - may be criticized for what she or he may or may not believe.

All who enter here are expected to refrain from personal criticism; avoid vulgarity or lewdness in any form; omit any tendency toward exhibitionism; and display good spirit, good faith and good fellowship. Not that our family is devoid of the capacity for a lightly censored laugh or two: we maintain a joke list, separately circulated, for all who care to exchange almost any form of humor. Few sites on the Internet reward so handsomely and in so many ways those who become one with the OrchidSafari family.


METHOD OF APLICATION: So that all may know exactly how OrchidSarari operates, a summary of our guideline is presented below:

By mutual consent, one member is designated "Keeper of the Cyber Peace", or KCP.

Control of OrchidSafari sessions is done only by the KCP. If someone says or does something out of line, every person offended can check "reply" on that item and send the phrase: "Review credo, please" to the offender in the open. That should end individual action on the matter. The KCP will see these messages and send a private message to the offender, giving them a button to the credo, and ask that the offender read and agree to comply with the credo before returning. In extreme cases, the KCP may give instructions on how to block the offender, but hopefully that won't be necessary. A half dozen "Review credo, please" messages should let any offender know something is wrong or has been said or taken in the wrong way. A brief apology should set everything right, or the offender may choose to leave. Hopefully, this approach will preclude personal animosity and recrimination.

Basically, we need to show GROUP disapproval of a transgressor's action. It is not the sole responsibility of the KCP to say what is acceptable or not acceptable. The KCP may act only in response to the group conscience. We must also restrict how much finger pointing we do individually. With one brief expression of concern, we can make our point. After that one expression of need for correction, our designated KCP can handle the matter privately. Chances are, something just came out the wrong way and did not have malicious intent.

OrchidSafari is a fully democratic organization. If anyone, at any time, feels OrchidSafari guidelines should be changed, suggestions to that effect will be welcome. We are travelling new paths along the Internet. Each of us must contribute to the development of a cyber society in which we can all live in peace and serenity.

Ed Wright, Mentor
Lois Greer, Host
Kathy Barrett, Co-Host
John Yates, KCP