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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!wmartin
From: wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.followup,net.news.group
Subject: Re: Submitted for your approval: net.forsale
Message-ID: <5077@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 5-Oct-84 10:28:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.5077
Posted: Fri Oct  5 10:28:04 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Oct-84 03:45:17 EDT
References: <550@sunybcs.UUCP> <5988@mcvax.UUCP>, <10309@gatech.UUCP> <9226@watmath.UUCP>, <664@islenet.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
Lines: 42

The discussions of the correct regionality for a "forsale" newsgroup
have ignored one important factor: the nature of the item for sale
determines how widespread the distribution should be. There is no
question that an ad for the sale of an ordinary automobile, or
next week's local concert or football tickets, should be restricted to
the local geographic region. However, an antique or collectible car
is probably worth advertising nationwide (but not overseas); that is
why there are national newsletters for car collectors. Hifi or camera
gear can be easily shipped, and can be sold nationwide; only customs
hassles mitigate against such sales crossing national borders. Again,
that is why there are nationally-distributed "classified ad" publications
for such items.

The net (as part of the WorldNet concept long discussed on the Human-Nets
Digest) can move to supplant and eventually replace such paper publications,
so telling posters just to use these existing media merely begs the question;
it is good that we address this issue seriously. I must admit that I do
not know HOW to "enforce" rational distribution guidelines on a "forsale"
group structure; this topic is worthy of discussion. Perhaps we can for now
only publish guidelines, the same as exist for all net postings, and hope
that they be observed. One step in this direction would be to list all the
valid "distribution" codes, and make sure that a method of posting to them
from outside the distribution area is available. For example, I am physically
located in St. Louis, MO, but access the net via this host in Maryland.
I would occasionally post items of interest to the St. Louis region, but
for two reasons:
1. I cannot READ any items restricted to any such local
distribution, so I don't know what has already been posted.
2. I know of no way for me to submit an item from this host that would be
transmitted across the net and posted only in the St. Louis area hosts (this
latter was discussed some months ago, but the exchange seemed to die off
unresolved).

(For that matter, I have no idea if a "stl" regional distribution exists!
All I have ever seen mentioned are "nj", "ba", "btl", and a few others.)

This problem is worthy of detailed exploration; somebody out there ought
to be able to get a thesis project out of solving it, at least!

Will Martin

seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin     or     wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA