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From: ln63fkn@sdcc7.UUCP (Paul van de Graaf)
Newsgroups: net.news.group
Subject: Put bad newsgroups on probation before killing them.
Message-ID: <148@sdcc7.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 22:44:16 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcc7.148
Posted: Fri Nov  1 22:44:16 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 05:38:57 EST
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
Lines: 48
Keywords: probation

Just as there is a protocol for starting a newsgroup, there should be a
protocol for ending one.  I don't recall a precedence for removing an 
active newsgroup until the recent demise of net.bizarre.  I'm sure all
know more than a few feathers have been ruffled on both sides of this 
issue.  Granted: net.bizarre and net.internat were rogue newsgroups, but
a little diplomacy might have helped ease tensions.

Given that removal of an active group has little precedence, one can hardly
expect that newsgroup members would bother reading net.news.group to find
out if such action would take place.  I started reading net.news.group when
I saw an off-handed remark in net.bizarre talking about "what was going on
behind my back".  After that I got the impression that net.bizarre was on
psuedo probation, and I started sending some of the more blatant misusers
mail to gently remind them to cool it.  The volume and quality of postings
improved somewhat, but then came discussions about hanging toilet paper,
simulating cat behavior, and the real kicker - a HUGE prime number posted
not once, but twice!  Soon after, net.bizarre was history.

Now we have people complaining they weren't consulted.  Not much can be
done about this now, but in the future I hope people wouldn't have this
argument.  I have nothing against removing groups per se, but I have some
thoughts about the procedure of removing a group.

Proposed Protocol:
1.)  Discuss the problem with the newsgroup in net.news.group.
     Establish the reasons for removing it.
     Sufficient grounds might be:
         high volume, poor signal to noise ratio, commercial content, etc.

2.)  Someone like Spaf decides the problem warrants action.
     Posts a probation notice in the newsgroup which:
	 Says why the group is in trouble.
	 Tells what needs to be done to keep the group.
	 Encourages members to police themselves and read net.announce.newusers.
	 Directs discussion to net.news.group.

     This message should repeat 1 or 2 times a week to catch new readers and
     assure no-one can say he/she missed it.

3.)  If after one month (maybe less) the group does not shape up, kill it!
     Otherwise the group stays, but remains on probation until the powers
     that be decide to lift it.
	      
If anyone wants to try this out on net.sources.mac, go ahead!  I especially
dislike posts of binary images.  At least with REAL sources, if I can't use
the software in question, I can learn something by reading it.

Paul van de Graaf		sdcsvax!sdcc7!ln63fkn		U. C. San Diego