randy@m2xenix.psg.com (Randy Bush) (08/13/90)
The following is a summary of the responses I received to my poll of how folk
felt about the FidoNet/Usenet link of this newsgroup/echo. Thank you to those
who responded to my question.
Given the results, it seems that we should keep it going, but I have some
personal comments:
o What I like least about it is that it puts me in the position of being a
'cop', and having to write to FidoNet sysops and inform them that their
abuser is being an embarrassment to FidoNet and their site (and themselves
well).
o I would appreciate it if folk helped by sending netmail to site admins
(known as 'sysop' on FidoNet) of [ab]users. While on Usenet this is very
bad manners, on FidoNet it is not.
o FidoNetters, _puhleeze_ learn to send your stuff via netmail when it is
not of interest to everyone.
o If the groups are separated, I can easily read both sides; so this is for
you folk, not for me. So feel free to bitch if you don't like it.
randy
From: Dan Resler <RESLERD@ul.ie>
> I'm beginning to get very annoyed at some of the Fidonet people that are
> now participating in the M2 groups ... especially this [ name deleted ]
> chap. I'm no longer so sure this link-up is such a good idea -- Fidonet
> seems to have different custom & practices that are irritating alot of the
> rest of us (i.e. such as very short, almost content-less messages and
> personal messages sent to everyone). I've finally got so annoyed at this
> [deleted] whats-his-name that I sent him a mild flame today (I've appended
> it to this message).
> So -- what do you think? Is this experiment working? I know I'm not alone
> in being annoyed.
[ I have sent mail to [name deleted], and received an immature flame back. ]
From: Doug Latornell <latornell@mech.ubc.ca>
> from what I see the discussion would be much sparser without the FidoNet
> input, both in terms of quality and quantity.
From: reid@ctc.contel.com (Tom Reid x4505)
> I like the cross-posting but can get the FidoNet via a local bulletin
> board if necessary. If you don't feel it worth it, I will abide.
[ This is likely true for just about all folk on the Usenet side. But most
have never thought of calling one of 'them BBS things' <grin>. ]
From: intelhf!ogicse!decwrl!apple!netcom!chrisj (Christopher Jewell)
> Speaking from the usenet side of the gateway, I'm happy with the link,
> which has brought some interesting discussion to c.l.m2. Whether the
> folks on the fido side think they've gotten anything out of the connection
> I cannot guess.
From: Four Elements Ltd - J Cooper <jpsc_4e@compulink.co.uk>
> I like it. The only problem is that I only have read access and find
> it frustrating to be unable to reply to some of the more interesting
> discussions.
> The only problem I do have is that many of the Fido contributions
> only have line breaks between paragraphs, this causes my reader a
> problem and I have to use a reformatting editor to browse through.
[ The lack of eols is a FidoNetism, where it is the responsibility of the
user's program to properly wrap for the reader. This comes from the days
when many BBS users had odd sized screens. It will be almost impossible to
cure this problem. ]
From: wolniewi@tramp.Colorado.EDU (Richard Wolniewicz)
> I enjoy the Usenet - FidoNet link, and I hope it can stay.
From: Scott.Rankin@p14.f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Scott Rankin)
> I like the results. Modula-2 on Fido was dead! Thanks for setting up the
> link.
From: Ron.Mckenzie@p1.f45.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Mckenzie)
> I like the added audience and the greater participation if brings. One
> question which I've tried to netmail to you before is whether we're "fully"
> connected to usenet or if we're just seeing selected 'traffic'?
[ Indeed, it is fully connected and automated. If it were not, I assure you
would not have seen the message from the self-annointed IBM whiz [sic]. ]
From: Stephan.Schwab@p21.f2.n241.z2.fidonet.org (Stephan Schwab)
> I appreciate linking Usenet's comp.lang.modula2 to MODULA-2.
From: Pieter.Muller@p4.f1.n492.z5.fidonet.org (Pieter Muller)
> I was receiving MODULA-2 and COMP.LANG.MODULA2 before the combination of the
> two so there was no difference in traffic for me. The content seemed to slip
> away from Modula-2 more often. I think the Fidonet guys are less inclined to
> post messages in COMP.LANG.MODULA2 than in MODULA-2, so it's probably better
> to keep the link.
From: uunet!van-bc!mindlink!Anthon_Pang (Anthon Pang)
> I like the linkage. I haven't found any "inappropriate" postings...as it has
> been rumored to come FidoNet posters :) And the volumne isn't high. Please
> continue.
From: uunet!van-bc!mindlink!Terry_Madsen (Terry Madsen)
> I'd be in favour of dropping the FidoNet link. There is at least one
> conversation between two FidoNet users which would be better carried on by
> direct email. While this is an extreme example, I'd like to see more
> discussion of language issues, and less "where can I get a cheap M2 compiler"
> questions. (I realize that this is a problem in other groups, but it seems
> worse here than in comp.lang.c.) I'd rather put up with a low traffic level.
From: "Tim Larson (814)898-6362" <TRL3@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
> Looking at it from the Usenet side, I have been very happy with the link. A
> lot of fresh voices were added to a relatively dusty newsgroup (we used to
> have weeks with no postings). More discussions have surfaced, and they last
> longer, with more input. I hope the link has been as useful from the Fidonet
> side. If the drain on resources is not too great, I would like to see it
> continue indefinitely.
From: Eric.Evans@p0.f506.n161.z1.fidonet.org (Eric Evans)
> Hi... I am a young IBM whiz kid.... I am looking for some cheap IBM
> commercial game... If you are a hacker, cracker, or pirate then please leave
> me a message concerning these IBM games... Make sure these games are the good
> quality ones that you can find in the stores... THANX... BYE!
[ c.l.m2's own Biff! I wonder if he knows that soliciting a crime is not
exactly legal. A real whiz! ]
--
..!{uunet,qiclab,intelhf}!m2xenix!randy randy@psg.com randy@m2xenix.uucp