Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!brl-tgr!wmartin From: wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) Newsgroups: net.news.group Subject: Re: New newgroup suggestion--Re: Permanent Postings Message-ID: <6662@brl-tgr.ARPA> Date: Wed, 19-Dec-84 11:48:19 EST Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.6662 Posted: Wed Dec 19 11:48:19 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 20-Dec-84 05:24:53 EST References: <33@angband.UUCP> <729@watdcsu.UUCP><165@unc.UUCP>, <17976@lanl.ARPA> <3176@alice.UUCP> Organization: USAMC ALMSA Lines: 69 > > I feel that there is a need for a newsgroup which can be used by those > who wish to ask questions and give answers, ESPECIALLY recurrant > questions and answers. Perhaps there is a need for a net.audio nettiquette > document that lists the 25 most common questions (or something like that) > that is always put at the beginning of the net.audio articles, and that > doesn't expire, thus providing a set of answers for the newcomer. (Query to > nettrash hackers--It that possible? I know that there are some > newuser announcements, but I don't know if we can put one in net.audio.) > This request brings up a concept I have long felt is needed in many news groups -- permanent postings. There are things that occur recurringly in practically every group, which should sit on each host as postings numbered 1 through 10 or something, never expire, and be viewed by each newcomer when they start reading news and when they subscribe to or begin reading that particular group. For example, the "net.announce.newusers" messages shouldn't have to be sent out anew each month; they should be postings #1-4 in that group and never expire, but only be replaced by a new edition when changes are made. In net.music.classical, the "list of composers" posting should remain as #1, and always be there, perhaps being edited and expanded but replaced in place. In net.jokes, the "canonical light-bulb joke" list, and similar collections, should remain unexpired as the low-numbered items. In every group, each recurring topic should produce a posting with the definitive collection of contributions/answers/explanations, which should always be there. Also, we often see suggestions that each group should have a "statement of purpose" or definition of limitations, which new users will see when they first see the group. What better candidate for permanent posting #1 in each group? I realize that implementing this will require software changes. Not only will the concept of "permanence" be needed, so the expire process will ignore these items, but a methodology for replacement-in-place will be needed, so a revised "statement of purpose" will go in as the new #1 instead of just being added as the next latest posting (though it wouldn't be a bad idea for this sort of thing to go in BOTH places -- as the replaced permanent #1 and also as an ordinary eventually-expired new posting; thus both new readers and old readers will see it). Also, a software change to override the automatic assignment of new numbers for items which are edited versions of permanent postings will be needed. It would be nice if this was universal net-wide; that is, net.audio #4 is the same notice on every machine that gets net.audio. Of course, this does mean that someone has to have the authority to generate these special articles and also be the reviewer of submitted revisions or suggested enhancements or additions. Maybe the moderators can do this for the "net" groups related to their fields of expertise? This still leaves a number of groups with no current moderator affiliation; perhaps the longest-lived major participant in each group could be the one who would maintain such permanent postings for that group? It shouldn't be difficult; after the initial set-up, there would be little revision or additions, I would think. Unfortunately, I doubt that we could leave such permanent postings alterable by anyone; there is too much potential for abuse there (someone making a 2000-line posting permanent, eating up space all over the net, for example). This appears to be worthwhile to me, but, since I'm no software type, I wouldn't be doing the work, so I leave it to the net wizards to assign a value to this. It looks like it would solve a few problems and eliminate a number of recurring complaints, though. Discussion? Will Martin USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA