Welcome to MHNET, the Morningside Heights mailing list, a site for civic activism and community issues relating to our Manhattan neighborhood. Please confine your posts to CIVIL-TONED posts about public policy, events or culture relevant to the community at large. The following guidelines attempt to strike a balance that keeps the discussion focused and interesting for everybody.

1. All who live or work in Morningside Heights may join and contribute, regardless of how long you have lived or worked here. However, Posts must relate DIRECTLY to a Morningside Heights person, place, institution, event or issue. (Neighboring areas -- Harlem, Manhattanville, Upper West -- are also covered; as are city issues in other neighborhoods that are relevant to ours). SPAMMERS, ADVERTISERS, AND THOSE MAKING PERSONAL PLEAS SHALL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY. SO DON'T BOTHER.

2. Posts must discuss issues that impact MORE THAN ONE PERSON. So: queries about doctors, dentists, vendors, etc. are appropriate, as are discussions of crime and public safety. Job requests for one's babysitter, or attempts to sell a rug -- these are better placed on the bulletin board of the Morningside Heights branch of the NYPL on the northeast corner of 113th and Amsterdam.

3. NO personal insults, ad hominem characterizations are prohibited. If you're over 21, write like it.

4. Messages must be signed. MH residents aren't interested in anonymous instructions on how to think. If your relationship to MH is work, you are expected to identify your employer.

5. At present the list isn't moderated. However, membership is restricted due to it having been abused by spammers. That means you must write a letter explaining what you do in Morningside Heights in order to be accepted for membership.

Thank you for your participation. Joyce Hackett, Owner MHNETA