(Updated 06/05/2006) First, be sure to join the Samurai Archives Citadel, the online community for people interested in Japanese history, culture, martial arts, language, entertainment, and current events: http://forums.samurai-archives.com/ Second, ask yourself why you are here. If it is to learn about and discuss JAPANESE HISTORY, you are in the right place. If you are here to discuss martial arts, Anime, or your dedication to the ways of Bushido you are in the WRONG PLACE. Join the Samurai Archives Citadel: http://samurai.threespursdesign.com/ The Samurai Archives Citadel has forums that cover every subject related to Japan. This is a moderated forum. Any off-topic posts may be ruthlessly deleted at the moderator(s) discretion without explanation. Please do not take offense if one of your message is deleted, we are just trying to keep everything on topic. The posting of SPAM will get you immediately banned without exception. Following is the constitution of the Samurai History Group of Yahoo, RATIFIED 2004-2005 POSTING TO THIS GROUP MEANS THAT YOU AGREE TO ALL THE TERMS WITHIN, AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR POSTS ARE ACCEPTED AT THE SOLE WILL OF THE MODERATOR(S) http://www.samurai-archives.com/ultmods.html This is a group of well over 1500 people, therefore order must be maintained. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS YOUR FUTURE ON THIS FORUM DEPENDS ON IT. CONSISTENT FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN YOUR BANISHMENT FROM THE FORUM. However, if you comply with the rules, it is guaranteed that there will be no problems. We don't tend to be THAT serious. ARTICLES: 1. Compose your emails using proper English, to include punctuation, spelling, spacing, capitalization, and grammar. Allowances will be made only for those who are not native English speakers. If you are above the age of 10 and a native English speaker, there is no excuse for composing like you are 4. If you are under 10, you probably should not be on the internet without supervision. 2. Limit your "internetspeak". Using abbreviations such as "lol" (Laugh out loud), "ROTFLMAO", etc., are acceptable in limited usage and proper context. This is not a license to abbreviate everything you write or take spelling/punctuation shortcuts because you are lazy--see Rule 1. "Smileys" are similarly acceptable in limited usage. Also, be sure to erase unneeded extra text from posts you reply to. There is no need to include the past 7 emails when you are only responding to the last 2 sentences of the most recent email. 3. Do not make personal accusations or insults. As moderators, we are here to enforce the rules and ensure proper discussion and debate, and will not tolerate "flaming" or personal attacks by anyone on anyone. Don't do it. 4. Have a thick skin and do not take things personally. While we won't allow personal insults, you must be able to handle being told you are wrong, especially if you are wrong. No one on this email list is infallible. Similarly, you must be able to handle sarcasm. The moderators will not protect you if you whine. The easiest thing to do is just not take things personally. If you post a theory that does not fit with what is commonly known and accepted as history, then back up your ideas with sources OR face the wrath of the more knowledgeable. Save your tears. 5. Remember this is a HISTORY LIST. While digressions are allowed to a limited extent, please keep things on topic. Gaming topics, anime, popular culture are fine as long as there is some connection with Japanese history; however, these are not "historical" sources. Do not get offended if someone says what you saw on "Ninja Hattori-kun" was inaccurate, because it probably was. If things get too far off topic, the list shogun will take appropriate action. Furthermore, this IS NOT a list for pseudo-philosophical Hagakure reading Samurai wannabe martial artists. If you want to bandy about how well you follow the tenets of Bushido, and how that makes you a 'modern Samurai', GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME. 6. Argue logically. "I saw it on an anime", "My sensei told me so", or "that's what it says on my Playstation game" are NOT acceptable bases for arguments. You will recieve derision and sarcasm in return, and you will deserve it. Do not misunderstand--any of these are good reasons to bring up a question. "In my PS2 game the main character uses a symbol on his banner--what is that called?" is a good question. "In my PS2 game you have to follow Bushido to win, so all samurai followed Bushido" is a statement which will get you laughed at for a month. 7. READ THE TOP 11 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE SAMURAI. The link is below. This is not negotiable. If you post something idiotic like "samurai hated guns", We will ask you if you read the list. http://www.geocities.com/klancesegall/home.htm 8. Have a sense of humor. 9. See rule #8. CONSISTENT FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY RESULT IN YOUR BANISHMENT FROM THE FORUM. THIS IS A MODERATED FORUM: Because this is a moderated forum, your post may not show up right away, because it must be checked by a moderator. Therefore, it is not necessary to repost. A moderator probably just hasn't had a chance to review your message. There are many extras located on this group's homepage at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/samuraihistory/ Feel free to post links to other Japanese history sites in the 'links' section, or click on the 'chat' section for real-time chat with anyone else who may be online. The 'files' section contains various Japanese history related files, and you can create polls for members to vote in in the 'Polls' section. Posting links or messages that contain SPAM will get you IMMEDIATELY BANNED from this group without exception. To start sending messages to members of this group, simply send email to: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com If you do not wish to belong to samuraihistory, you may unsubscribe by sending an email to: samuraihistory-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com You may also visit the Yahoo! Groups web site to modify your subscriptions: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/samuraihistory/