This is the NVDA Group Monthly Reminder Notice, which is meant to re-emphasize the NVDA Group Rules.

The central purpose of the NVDA Group is discussing how to use NVDA, either configuring NVDA's settings or familiarizing oneself with its modes and commands.  Discussions about which programs are accessible using NVDA, NVDA add-ons, NVDA tutorials and documentation, and configuring synthesizers or Braille displays for use with NVDA are also permitted.  Like all screen readers, it is a tool for accessing something else, and really serves no other purpose.  Its function as an accessibility tool is, of course, its reason for being.

It is presumed that the majority of members will be using NVDA, and possibly other screen readers, as part of their daily routine.  This being the case, before you post a message you have to consider whether the question you are about to ask is actually about NVDA itself, or about the program you’re using it to access.  Questions of the form, How do I use . . . with NVDA?, are very seldom about NVDA, but are almost always about the program being accessed with NVDA.

The NVDA Group has a Chat Subgroup (see: https://nvda.groups.io/g/chat, Group Email Addresses section) that has as its purpose the asking of virtually any “off-topic” question about anything you can think of, including just socializing.  It should be used for exactly that purpose. The Chat Subgroup has generally had technically focused topics related to using features of the programs that one is using NVDA to access or about other programs that have proven helpful.  Only those who are already members of the NVDA Group can subscribe to the Chat Subgroup.  

Before choosing where to post, please ask yourself the question, “Is what I’m about to ask or offer directly related to controlling or using NVDA, or whether a specific program is accessible with NVDA?”  If that can be answered, “Yes,” then post to the NVDA Group, and if the answer is, “No,” then the topic belongs in the NVDA Chat Subgroup.

In order to make your experience, and those of all other members, as pleasant as they can be, please follow these practices:

1.  Use threaded or conversation view in your e-mail client program or webmail and reading through the entirety of a topic before replying.  It gets you completely up to speed and avoids a lot of repetition.  If you choose not to use threaded/conversation view, please take the time to read through all messages from the group that are in your inbox prior to adding any reply to the group.  It’s the only way you can be sure you’re up to speed on any topic when not using threaded/conversation view.

2.  Reading through all new topics before replying, as topics have a tendency to get split upon occasion and often an answer ends up being in a separate topic.

3. If you have reason to believe your question has likely been asked and answered in the past please search the Group Archive first before asking it again.  Step-by-Step instructions for searching the group archive using the Groups.io search or a web search engine of your choosing: Searching_the_NVDA_Group_Archive.docx.  Please consider using a web search first for questions that have almost certainly been asked frequently and for which myriad answers, often in the form of tutorials, already exist.

4.  Think very carefully about the title you are going to give any topic you post.  The topic is the first (and, sometimes, only) thing a member sees and that may be how they decide if they’re going to look further.   Generic titles, such as “Help Me!,” are not helpful because they give no idea about what.  Compare that to something like, “NVDA not reading Excel cell contents,” or, “NVDA setting for pronouncing numbers,” where the exact issue where help is needed is front and center.   Even something like, “Need help with the following . . .,” lets the reader know that you are going to present a list of issues.

5.  Please avoid, “What is the best . . .?,” topics, because what qualifies as “best” is entirely subjective.   Topics of this sort are also always chat topics.  If you know you have specific needs then asking, “What {insert program type here} has the following features . . .,” is much more descriptive.   If you want to know what programs people like for a specific task, asking, “What’s your favorite . . . and why?,” is far more likely to get you the details you want to have.  Notice that none of the above questions ask about whether a program is accessible with NVDA.  If you’re asking something like, “Which {insert program class here} is accessible with NVDA?,” then it’s a main group topic.

6.  Any topic that is not about using NVDA to accomplish a task, or how to control NVDA, belongs in the chat subgroup, not the main group.  All questions about how to use the specific features of a program that you’re using NVDA to access, but not about NVDA itself, belong in the chat subgroup.

Respectful, even if slightly heated, disagreements will occur occasionally and will be tolerated provided what is described next does not occur.  Flaming, name calling, instigating arguments for their own sake that do nothing to advance anyone’s knowledge, pointed rudeness, and similar boorish behavior will not be tolerated.  If at any point one of you happens upon a message anywhere in the NVDA Group sphere, main or chat, that fits the preceding description then please report it to the group owner either via e-mail at, nvda+owner@nvda.groups.io, or, if you read via the web interface at https://nvda.groups.io/g/nvda/topics, then use the Report this message option that’s a part of the More button at the end of each message.  Please don’t add a protest message the topic.  If we receive a report and agree with it, the issue will be taken care of promptly.

If you find the amount of traffic from this Group, or any Groups.io group, overwhelming, then please download and read:

Controlling the Messages You Receive via E-Mail from Groups.io (docx)

Controlling the Messages You Receive via E-Mail from Groups.io (PDF)

Each of you has the ability to mute topics that don’t interest you, get digests instead of individual messages, or to set up topic preview for yourself via the Following Only and First Messages Also features used in conjunction with each other.  It is up to you to use those to manage your e-mail as you see fit.  It’s almost certain that there will be plenty of topics on the chat subgroup that will not be of the least interest to you as an individual. Setting up topic preview lets you pick and choose what you want to continue to see, and this function can be used on any Groups.io group.

Sincerely,

Nimer Jaber                                     Brian Vogel

NVDA Group Owner                      NVDA Group Moderator

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