Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cbmvax!snark!eric
From: eric@snark.UUCP (Eric S. Raymond)
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: Re: need patch for controlling cross-posted articles
Summary: Mr. Brader's suggestions are now in 3.0
Message-ID: 
Date: 27 Sep 88 17:47:53 GMT
References:   <14487@agate.berkeley.edu> <1988Sep23.122756.22442@sq.uucp>
Organization: First Zenarchist International
Lines: 40

Thank you, Mr. Brader, for a well and forcefully-stated reality check.

In article <1988Sep23.122756.22442@sq.uucp>, msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) writes:
> This is absolutely the wrong thing to do.  The Newsgroups line specifies
> a *set* of newsgroups, all equivalent; there has never been any understanding
> that one was more important than the rest.

True. I implemented the -C flag in response to suggestions from a couple of my
beta sites. You've shown that they didn't think the problem through, nor did I.

> The *right* thing to do is for the posting software to *warn* people when
> they're posting [a followup to a crosspost or anything with a Followup-To]
> and give them an extra chance to change the Newsgroups line.
> This should happen after they have edited the article body.

Done. Actually what I have postnews do is offer to bounce the user back into
the editor if the Followup-To differs from Newsgroups.

> The posting program should also *demand* a Followup-To line on all
> cross-posted articles, whether originating or followups.

Done.

> If you're going to apply a fix, apply the right fix!

Quite so. And, failing that, one should at least have one's brain in gear
enough to recognize the right fix when suggested, and *then* apply it...
the -C option is now dead.

> And while you're at it, I further suggest that after people have edited
> the message, they should be reminded of the Subject line and given a
> chance to change that, and then be prompted for a Summary line.

Both excellent suggestions. Done and done.

My beta sites will receive these changes in Patch #6.
-- 
      Eric S. Raymond                     (the mad mastermind of TMN-Netnews)
      UUCP: ...!{uunet,att,rutgers}!snark!eric = eric@snark.UUCP
      Post: 22 S. Warren Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355      Phone: (215)-296-5718