Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site brl-tgr.ARPA 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