tp@ndm20 (11/01/85)
/* Written 6:54 am Nov 1, 1985 by tp@ndm20 in ndm20:net.news */ >(Surely you >don't seriously suggest that people read net.misc looking for technical >articles?) This is a valid point. I and probably others do not read net.misc because it appears devoid of any usefulness. Nobody attempts to start technical discussions there. There are some topics that have no natural home, thus causing the discussion to be split into several groups, thus losing the cohesion it would have if it were in one place. Take the recent request for net.compiler. This came about because compiler issues are being discussed in net.arch and net.lang. There is no clear cut natural home for this topic, and that fact alone hampers the discussion itself. What I propose is a group to be created for miscellaneous technical discussions. I am posting this in net.news and also crossposting to net.news.group, but it is more a matter of a policy decision than just a group request. As far as the rules go, I think there is demonstrated need by the fact that numerous technical discussions exist in inappropriate places. If sufficient people agree with my contention that this is largely due to the lack of a good place for the discussion, that will demonstrate need and support. As for the name, either net.technical or net.misc.technical seem good (probably the latter better illustrates the group's purpose). This would give people a good place to post on technical topics for which the group creation criteria have not been met, such as operating systems, compilers, and internationalization, to name a few recent examples, and give them a fighting chance to demonstrate need (and conversely, failure to demonstrate need should be easier to prove). Closing comment: I support Gene Spafford's actions. We need rules because the net is getting too big (as judged by the people paying the bills). If you don't like the rules, net.news is where to go to change them. They should NOT be ignored, as that may destroy the net. I am still in favor of the SA's voting, with the votes weighted by the number of outgoing news feeds. I am not biased. I have no outgoing feeds. Thanks, Terry Poot Nathan D. Maier Consulting Engineers (214)739-4741 Usenet: ...!{allegra|ihnp4}!convex!smu!ndm20!tp CSNET: ndm20!tp@smu ARPA: ndm20!tp%smu@csnet-relay.ARPA /* End of text from ndm20:net.news */