phil@amd.UUCP (Phil Ngai) (09/20/84)
Can anything be done about all the "please mail me the source
for mazewars" articles in net.sources? I can unsubscribe to
net.general but net.sources can be very valuable. And I archive
it forever so the junk is especially irritating.
I'm tempted to forge cancellation msgs for these articles,
wonder if there'd be any objections. I certainly wouldn't
mind if someone did that.
--
Legalized gambling is a tax on the stupid.
Phil Ngai (408) 982-6554
UUCPnet: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra,intelca}!amd!phil
ARPAnet: amd!phil@decwrl.ARPAspaf@gatech.UUCP (Gene Spafford) (09/21/84)
> Can anything be done about all the "please mail me the source > for mazewars" articles in net.sources? I can unsubscribe to > net.general but net.sources can be very valuable. And I archive > it forever so the junk is especially irritating. > > I'm tempted to forge cancellation msgs for these articles, > wonder if there'
spaf@gatech.UUCP (Gene Spafford) (09/27/84)
[This is a reposting because most of the sites "downstream" from amd and dual got a truncated first version. --gene] > Can anything be done about all the "please mail me the source > for mazewars" articles in net.sources? I can unsubscribe to > net.general but net.sources can be very valuable. And I archive > it forever so the junk is especially irritating. > > I'm tempted to forge cancellation msgs for these articles, > wonder if there'd be any objections. I certainly wouldn't > mind if someone did that. > > Phil Ngai (408) 982-6554 Don't forge cancellation messages! That would be setting an example that we would regret later. This problem also exists elsewhere, with people posting test messages to net.general and strictly religious flames to net.singles. What I've been doing, and what I suggest others do, is mail a short (non-flame) note back to anyone posting something to the wrong group. Tell them that what they posted is inappropriate (in your opinion) and that instead it should have gone to net.whatever; requests for mazewar should be posted in net.wanted, car-for-sale announcements should be in a local group, there is a net.test for tests, and net.religion is devoted to religious articles -- not net.singles. If someone receives 10 or 20 or 100 messages saying that they goofed, maybe the idea will sink in that they should think a bit before they submit again. If they get no feedback at all (like currently), they may never realize that they upset people throughout the net. If you do decide to write to the posters of inapprorpiate articles please bear the following in mind: 1) Don't flame them. Most posters of inappropriate articles are relatively new to the net and don't know how to effectively use it (do any of us?). Flames should not be invoked on hapless, naive users. On their system administrators, perhaps, but that's another story. 2) Be sure to suggest where they should have posted their articles. There is nothing quite so annoying as someone telling you that you're wrong, but not showing you what is right. Help guide our neophytes to the light. And to the correct newsgroup. 3) Make sure you don't speak "for the net." Each of us is applying our own selection criteria based upon tradition and our understanding of what each newsgroup is for. It is the weight of opinion which guides the net. If enough people want to turn net.sources into net.sources.request (which I may create if enough people MAIL me agreement), or if they want to turn net.singles into net.singles.religion&guilt, then that is what we should allow. So speak out, and let your opinion be heard. 4) DON'T POST YOUR COMPLAINTS! Perhaps now and again one person should post something pointing out how the discussion is moving away from the stated topic(s), but posting an article to that effect each time someone goofs is being guilty of the same kind of infraction (unless it is net.flame). So, get those cards and letters out. Maybe it won't cure the problem, but let's at least feel we're addressing it in a rational manner. -- Off the Wall of Gene Spafford The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332 Phone: (404) 894-6169, (404) 894-6170 [messages] CSNet: Spaf @ GATech ARPA: Spaf%GATech.CSNet @ CSNet-Relay.ARPA uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,masscomp,ut-ngp}!gatech!spaf ...!{rlgvax,sb1,seismo,uf-cgrl,unmvax,ut-sally}!gatech!spaf
daves@ios.UUCP (David B. Schnepper) (10/01/84)
I agree with Gene. This is a policy I have been personally following for several months now. Whenever I see an article posted to net.general (for example) that *I* feel is inappropiate, I mail a response back, stating: - That I feel their article was inappropiate - Where I felt it should have been posted. - and that they should read the articles posted in net.announce.newuser To make this easier on myself, I have several "template" responses setup. One for "wanted" requests in net.general, one for "path" requests in net.general, etc, etc, etc. Dave Schnepper ios!daves