[news.software.b] A possible solution to the Expires: problem

matt@oddjob.UChicago.EDU (Matt Crawford) (08/02/87)

In article <1026@moscom.UUCP> jgp@moscom.UUCP (Jim Prescott) writes:
) How about a new header line of the form:
) 	Supersedes: message_id [message_id ...]
) When an article comes in with a Supersedes line news posts it normally
) and then does a cancel on the message_ids indicated.  ...
) Any comments?

I think this is a grade-A #1 good idea.  It is general - I can
already think of lots of situations in which it would be useful.
The network map files, Baby Doc Werner's AIDS postings,
positions in PBM games, newsgroup charters posted to the groups,
answers to common question in newsgroup X, and plenty more.

One caveat: it should be no easier to forge a "Supersedes" field
than a "Cancel" message.  Probably this means only articles from
the same poster can be superseded.
________________________________________________________
Matt	     University		matt@oddjob.uchicago.edu
Crawford     of Chicago     {astrovax,ihnp4}!oddjob!matt