Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site floyd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!trb
From: trb@floyd.UUCP (Andy Tannenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.news
Subject: Re: usenet statistics
Message-ID: <1868@floyd.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 30-Jul-83 10:23:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: floyd.1868
Posted: Sat Jul 30 10:23:27 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 1-Aug-83 08:19:14 EDT
References: <273@hound.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ
Lines: 34


Roy Walters (hound!rwhw, aka BTM) suggests:

	Why not post the fact that certain stats are available and
	anyone that wants them should send a request to the author(s).

That would sort of negate the convenience of netnews, now, wouldn't
it, Roy?  I like to glance at the stats to make sure that I'm not on
them, too see if there are any hot groups I'm ignoring, to see if any
of my favorite flamers are active where I'm not looking, etc.  I find
the stats interesting, as stats go.  I didn't think it was necessary
to express that here, but now I see a few people shooting down the guy
who made the effort to compile the stats and present them in a
digestible form, and you're shooting him down.  The stats are relevant
to EVERYONE who receives netnews, though not all may find them
interesting.

Roy, I see you suggesting that this guy post a request for requests.  I
don't enjoy reading most of your netnews, but I don't have the gaul to
suggest that you post notice of the availability of your opinions, so
that people could request them.  This other fellow isn't even posting
opinions, he's posting facts (from the perspective of his netnews
system, of course), which have, at least, intrinsic objective value,
if not subjective value.  The jury is still out on whether certain
people's opinions have ANY value.

So get off the guy's case.  alice!alb already claimed in this space
that he likes the stats, I like the stats.  The guy who posted them
likes them, and his mom probably does too.  If we like them, knowing
the nature of the shy folks on this medium, there are probably
uncounted millions who like them.

	Better than nothing,
	Andy Tannenbaum   Bell Labs  Whippany, NJ   (201) 386-6491