[comp.emacs] Fifty percent new text rule

haugj@pigs.UUCP (Joe Bob Willie) (07/09/88)

In article <343@ns.ns.com> ddb@ns.ns.com (David Dyer-Bennet) writes:
>In article <133@dcs.UUCP>, wnp@dcs.UUCP (Wolf N. Paul) writes:
>> The purpose of the "more new text than included quote" is to REDUCE VOLUME;
>> to add garbage new text has exactly the opposite effect. Use common sense,
>> folks!
>
>  Common sense would dictate not attempting to impose a stupid "new text
>ratio" requirement through the news software.  While it is possible to
>"fool" that software, I have also chosen instead to make my protest visible
>on the occasions when I've been saddled with it. 

the "more new text than old text" also aspires to encourage posters to
contrbitute more to the discussion than a page full of quotes followed
by one line of `i agree compeletely with what you've just said'.

often, because of the convoluted writing style of some net users, you
must quote vast amounts of an article.  also, you may need to quote for
context.  remember, we frequently have the complete text of an article
available with either `p' in vnews, or ^P in rn.  only quote the parts
which you are refering to.  and if you can't come up with something
new, don't bother posting.  your `i agree 100%' posting is someone elses
garbage they have to wade through.

- john.
-- 
 John "Evil USENET User" F. Haugh II          HECI Exploration Co, Inc., Dallas
 UUCP: ...!killer!rpp386!jfh                            jfh@rpp386.UUCP :DOMAIN
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 "You are in a twisty little maze of UUCP connections, all alike" -- fortune

tneff@dasys1.UUCP (Tom Neff) (07/10/88)

In article <245@pigs.UUCP>, John Haugh lays out the reasons for the
50%-new-textrule very cogently.  I just want to add a couple of
points:

  *  If all you really want to do is pat the author of a posting on
     the back with an "I agree 100%" message, DO IT VIA NETMAIL not news!
     The author might enjoy hearing your applause, but to the rest of
     the net it's just noise.

  *  Users, PLEASE read the articles in news.announce.newusers!  They are
     updated monthly and cover all these basics, including the reasons
     why it's done the way it is.  If you have a technical problem, ask
     your sysadmin locally first before SOS'ing to the net -- he or she
     may already have the answer.

OK at ease, smoke em if you got em. <grin>
-- 
Tom Neff			UUCP: ...!cmcl2!phri!dasys1!tneff
	"None of your toys	CIS: 76556,2536	       MCI: TNEFF
	 will function..."	GEnie: TOMNEFF	       BIX: t.neff (no kidding)