From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhtsa!alice!npoiv!npois!cbosgd!mark
Newsgroups: net.news
Title: Re: Perhaps a solution to net.jokes:
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.2583
Posted: Thu Sep  2 13:56:28 1982
Received: Sun Sep  5 05:52:34 1982
References: ixn5c.227

Gill Pratt has what on the surface appears to be a reasonable
solution to the jokes problem.  I do worry, however, that the
newsgroup net.jokes would continue to exist, and the same
problem that net.jokes.q had would affect net.jokes.d and
net.jokes.x, namely, people who subscribed to net.jokes
would get the rest by accident.  Since it would probably not
be possible to kill net.jokes completely (especially among
the readers who have references to it in their .newsrc files)
I would suggest going with ug.jokes instead.  If ug want to
subdivide into x and d categories, fine.

I urge those sites that want ug.all to contact each other and
set up links.  Sites that have censors downstream (this appears
to include physics and idis) should be encouraged to set up
links for ug.all directly to other sites that want this kind
of material.  However, we are all bound by economics - if a site
wants ug.all but has no dialer, it is up to that site to find
someone willing to call them and send them ug.all.

If you want a newsgroup to discuss setting up these connections,
it should probably be called ug.news, or perhaps ug.general.
Since there are obvious initial startup problems, I propose that
someone offer to be a central contact point and directory keeper.
I discourage creation of net.link for this purpose - if such a
newsgroup is really needed to get started, please use net.wanted.

Again, I am (speaking for the USENET silent majority, if I may be
so bold) not condoning racist or degrading jokes, nor am I condoning
censorship.  I am encouraging a solution where both sides are happy:
sites wanting free speech at all costs can have their forum, but the
average person who does not want to read this type of material (or
flames about this type of material) has the inalienable right to
not have to read this stuff, even by accident.

As to a person who wants this kind of material whose account is on
a machine that does not allow it, perhaps a guest account on a
machine getting ug.all can be arranged.  (No, I'm not offering,
we don't get it here.)

	Mark