Well, that's an interesting question - one of the odd things about the Internet is that there really isn't anyone "in charge". There ARE regulatory bodies that work on technical specifications, address registrations and the like, but for the most part the Internet and its users are self-policing in terms of behavior and what is accepted or tolerated.
You've probably heard the stories about people doing "inappropriate" things on the Internet, like sending unwanted junk-mail or Usenet postings (i.e. messages promoting the products or services of the sender). This is considered a major breach of Internet etiquette - people don't want their mailboxes or their disk space getting filled up with junk mail. Those who have been around the Internet for a while know that if newcomers to the Internet start to use it as a "cheap" and intrusive way to send junk mail, the Internet as a whole will get so clogged with junk, there won't be any bandwidth or "room" for normal, acceptable activities. It will also get you expelled from EPSB.NET
The first and most important rule here at EPSB.NET is to practice basic Network Etiquette. It's pretty much the Golden Rule philosophy of "Do unto others . . ." The Internet is a big place and information moves quickly. People who try to do "bad" or unwanted things might get away with it once, but only once.
Be aware, when posting to mail lists or News groups, that what you write will travel around the world and could be seen by potentially anyone. It will probably get archived somewhere as well and could potentially annoy some people you might later wish you hadn't annoyed. If you're not willing to stand behind what you write, then don't post or send it. And remember that what you write goes to a WORLD audience, not just people who look and think like you. Try to be considerate of the readers in other parts of the Internet community who might take offense (intended or unintended) by stereotypes, clichés, etc. And also be aware that they might not have the same cultural references (media, slang, etc.) so try to be clear without being glib or condescending.
Our system and its resources are designed to connect our users to the Internet. Attempts to gain access to unauthorized areas of our service will not be tolerated. Users who choose to poke around where they don't belong will be asked to cease and desist. They will not be asked a second time. The Internet is HUGE - save your exploring for "out there", not "in here".
The system may not be used for any activity or storage of any data that is illegal under Canadian law. In addition, the administrators of this system reserve the right to revoke system access without prior notice, if the user is deemed to have used the system inappropriately.
Anyone who wants to harass or bully others either on this system or elsewhere on the `Net will have access revoked. Period. End of story. Personal accounts are just that - which is to say, they are for one person. Sharing of accounts is not allowed. Dial-in lines are a precious resource and our subscription fees are based on one user per line, as well as the average utilization patterns of one person per account. You don't want anyone else looking at your e-mail anyway, do you? Normally we support the concept of sharing. We tell our kids that all the time. But not with accounts. Here we cling stubbornly to the concept of monogamy - one account, one user.
There's almost always an exception to every rule and here's the one exception: if you wish to share your account with your husband or wife - or if you want to let the kids have access for something, that's okay. The family that surfs together... and all that. Just remember that if you go this route, you may want to allocate usage time judiciously to satisfy everyone's time requirements. Of course, you could always get someone you love their own account, oui?
We hope to keep things loose, friendly, open and comfortable for all. Help us to do that by abiding by the rules above. And if you're not sure if you should do something here, ask us first. We'll be happy to give you our opinion.