root@hobbes.UUCP (John Plocher) (07/13/87)
(Sorry about the length 8-)
About 3 weeks ago I posted (to comp.unix.xenix and news.groups) a request
similar to the following. I am posting the request a second time along with
related info about Microport System5 for the IBM PC/AT. Votes and comments
will be accepted through July 31, 1987, at which point I will summarize all
votes and comments; I will mail the summaries to the backbone, and I will
post results to news.groups.
* * * * * * * *
Email votes ONLY. Posted votes will be IGNORED, flamed, folded and mutilated.
* * * * * * * *
Is there enough interest in System5 to justify creation of a
new Usenet news group called comp.unix.sys5 for the discussion
of Unix System5?
The reason for this request is that there seems to be an
increasing ammount of Sys5 discussion on the net, dispersed
among comp.sys.ibm.pc, comp.unix.questions, comp.unix.xenix,
comp.os.minix, and the like. A single group would be desireable
simply for the sake of concentrating these discussions in one
place.
The existence of comp.unix.xenix and comp.bugs.sys5 argue
that the discussion group should be called comp.unix.sys5.
( comp.unix.xenix sets precedence for discussion groups about
versions of unix under the name space of comp.unix; comp.bugs.sys5
sets precedence for the use of the name sys5 as the abbreviation
of choice for System5 )
There is a mailing list targeted for Microport System5 on the
IBM/AT. Although the newsletter addresses a subset of the Sys5
world, the comp.unix.sys5 group would still be the appropriate
place for it's concerns. The Microp Newsletter is currently being
sent to about 60 systems and is reaching the upper limit as far as
mailing lists go.
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After receiving a few questions about the moderated status of the new group, I
prepared the following:
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I feel that the group would best be run as a MODERATED group.
I am NOT at this time volunteering to be the moderator as my
sites do not yet have a long term reliable news link.
Advantages of moderation:
1) A moderated group can easily be "gatewayed" to mail-only
sites. This could be done even by an automatic mail reflector
playing Moderator. Many of the Microport SV/AT machines do not
have the resources to handle news, but are very happy with smail
or (shudder) mailx. Thus, these people will not be shut out of
the discussion cycle.
2) A moderated group is easier to archive and catalog. This is
useful for many reasons, reference being one of the stronger.
3) A moderated group is more likely to be approved by the powers
that be.
4) A moderated group is better management of the readers time. I
don't pretend to speak for everyone/anyone, but I_ don't have
more than about 2 hours a day to spend with Usenet. That
includes playing with comp.sources.*, being news admin for the
dept, archiving groups, following sci.space (Thanks Henry), and
so on, ad nausium. A quick check of my .newsrc shows that most
of the groups still subscribed to are moderated. If I had more
time I would add some more unmoderated groups, but for now, I
don't have the time.
Disadvantages of moderation:
1) Moderating adds about 2 to 4 days to the propagation time of
a submission.
2) Depending on the moderator, the group might become polarized
for/against some viewpoints.
3) Moderation is seen by some as being forced upon Usenet, and so
should be fought against on principle.
My arguments against these "disadvantages:
1) The time for an article to propagate to the whole usa net
has been estimated at > 2 weeks. Adding 3 days is only a 10%
increase. I can live with that (judgement call).
2) So far I don't know of any moderators who don't go out of their
way to be fair. Most have rules which for allowing/denying
submissions which they follow closely. Also, this is a technical
group where opinions count for less than in a talk group.
3) This is a "religious" argument which I can not argue against.
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Votes (Yes/No), comments, questions, flames, and cash donations :-)
accepted by email only to:
uwvax.wisc.edu!geowhiz!uwspan!hobbes!plocher
-or-
uwvax.wisc.edu!geowhiz!uwspan!plocher
-or-
puff.wisc.edu!plocher
-or-
plocher@puff.wisc.edu
-or-
plocher%uwspan.UUCP@uwvax.cs.Wisc.EDU
-or-
BITNET: uwvax!geowhiz!uwspan!plocher@psuvax1
-or-
FidoNet: 121/0 John_Plocher
(These mailboxes all forward to hobbes so use whichever ONE you wish)
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* Summary of votes received as of Mon Jul 13 12:00:07 CST 1987 *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Do you favor the creation of a newsgroup called "comp.unix.sys5" targeted
for discussion of Unix System5? ''
From: uwmacc!ollie.SEAS.UCLA.EDU!ll-xn!scw (Stephen C. Woods) YES
From: uwmacc!seismo!cbmvax!grr (George Robbins) YES +
From: uwmacc!EDDIE.MIT.EDU!allegra!ulysses!sfmag!sfsup!sfmin!lmg YES
From: uwmacc!rutgers!cbmvax!snark!eric YES
From: uwmacc!seismo!uunet!stb!michael YES
From: uwmacc!rutgers!gatech!tektronix!psu-cs!curnutt (Bryan Curnutt) YES +
From: <uwspan!?? - mail lost because I screwed up installing smail> YES
From: <uwspan!?? - mail lost because I screwed up installing smail> YES
From: <uwspan!?? - mail lost because I screwed up installing smail> YES
From: <uwspan!?? - mail lost because I screwed up installing smail> YES
From: uwmacc!seismo!svo!mfbbs!marc INFO ONLY
From: uwvax!rutgers!cbmvax!vu-vlsi!devon!transue YES
From: <uwmacc!rutgers!umnd-cs!umn-cs!rosevax!herman!alan> YES +
From: uwvax!harvard!wjh12!genrad!sdti!mjy YES
From: uwvax!puff.wisc.edu!spool.wisc.edu!ihnp4.UUCP!ddsw1!karl YES
From: uwvax!puff.wisc.edu!decwrl.dec.com!tallis.DEC!draper YES
From: <uwmacc!rutgers!gatech!mcdchg!motdet!michael> YES
From: seismo!umix!b-tech!zeeff YES
Different names suggested by above (+) respondents:
comp.unix.microport
comp.unix.micro
comp.unix.uport
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* End of call for votes. What follows is info about the Microp Newsletter *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microp Newsletter Address:
This list is targeted towards technical discussions of Microport's
Sys V/AT Unix for the IBM PC-AT. It not officially or unofficially
related to Microport Systems Inc.
Any input you have should be sent to:
seismo!umix!b-tech!microp
microp%b-tech.uucp%umix.cc.umich.edu
-- Jon Zeeff (b-tech!zeeff)
===============
(Current newsletter is #30)
===============
From: b-tech!zeeff
Subject: back issues
I've set up an automated system for retrieving back issues. Send mail to
b-tech!microp-back (*not* the normal microp) with a message body such
as:
RETURN <internet name@site.domain or uucp path from some major site to you>
SEND <list of back issues>
example:
RETURN ihnp4!foo!user
SEND 5 6
Please limit it to 5 back issues per day to keep my neighbors happy.
--
John Plocher (see above for email address)