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From: alcmist@ssc-vax.UUCP (Frederick Wamsley)
Newsgroups: net.news.group
Subject: net.general.newusers; short proposal, long argument
Message-ID: <336@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 13-Jan-85 23:35:46 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.336
Posted: Sun Jan 13 23:35:46 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 15-Jan-85 01:47:55 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 95

SUMMARY

Distribute information about how to use net.general in a newsgroup
called net.general.newusers.  Overseas sites could elect not to 
receive net.general.newusers. People who know the rules could 
unsubscribe from it.

The new group would cover ONLY rules for net.general and would not
try to duplicate the material in net.announce.newusers, which covers
the whole realm of netiquette.

ARGUMENTS
(this section is where I answer possible objections.  It's long.
Skip it if you agree with me).

Objection #1 -- We should delete net.general instead of adding a subgroup!

I agree with this one.  Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be enough
of a consensus to nuke net.general.  As long as we still have it we
should try to save it.

Objection #2 --  It wouldn't do any good.

I think it would.  Net.announce.newusers has spread a lot of useful
information.  Net.general.newusers would catch everyone in the USA 
who is reading net.general for the first time.  It should eliminate
mispostings due to ignorance.

I think a new subgroup has an advantage over all the other techniques
that have been tried to educate net.general users.  Unlike printed
documentation, friendly software, and nasty letters to trash-posters,
it will reach everybody in the distribution area who is just 
discovering the net.

Objection #3 -- It's redundant to net.announce.newusers

No, because the subject matter is different.  It would describe how
to use one particular newsgroup properly.

Yes, net.announce.newusers already has the rules for net.general.
But they won't be seen by people who only skim net.announce.newusers,
or by people who don't have it on their subscription list.

Objection #4 -- So who has the time to write an intro to net.general?

I'll write it.  There's no reason to take any more time away from
Chuq, Mark, Spaf & co.

Objection #5 -- It will be flooded by articles from new users.

Once they've read it, I hope they would know better.  Maybe the
name should be net.general.intro, which doesn't sound like a
forum for new users to post to.

Objection #6 --  There's nothing wrong with net.general!

Yes there is.  So many people have unsubscribed that it has lost 
much effectiveness as a way of reaching people.  My source for that
is Mark Horton.

Objection #7 -- You're a fascist.

I know somebody is going to say this.  My motive is preserving an
unmoderated forum (net.general) which can reach thousands of people.
If that's fascism, call me Benito.

Objection #8 -- It doesn't give new people enough information.

True.  Net.general.newusers probably ought to have a pointer to
net.announce.newusers.

Objection #9 -- You've missed the point.  The problem isn't ignorance,
		it's deliberate misuse of net.general.

I hope not.  But if all those people posting path requests really do
know what net.general is for, then my proposal won't do any good.

Objection #10 -- net.general.newusers would burden Europe and Korea
		with more traffic at high phone rates.

No, they wouldn't receive it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, what do people think?  Am I totally off base?  Have I come
up with something worthwhile?

Looking forward to hearing from you,
	Fred Wamsley
-- 
UUCP:{ihnp4,decvax}!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!alcmist ARPA:ssc-vax!alcmist@uw-beaver
I am not speaking as a representative of the Boeing Company or any of 
its divisions.  Opinions expressed are solely my own (if that) and
have nothing to do with company policy or with the opinions of my
coworkers, or those of the staff of the Software Support Center VAX.
	(did I leave anyone out? :-))