lyndon@ncc.UUCP (Lyndon Nerenberg) (02/01/88)
In article <213@teletron.UUCP>, andrew@teletron.UUCP (Andrew Scott) writes: > > Actually, I was quite awake. I got suspicious when I noticed that *every* > file in /usr/spool/news/unix-pc/* had multiple links. Taking a look at the > headers revealed that they were all cross-posted to some other USENET group > which we *did* receive - thus the links. We haven't seen any unix-pc.* only > traffic, hence the motivation for the cross-posting proposal. It still sounds like a problem between alberta and teletron. I checked the Newsgroups: line on all the articles in unix-pc on alberta with the following results: 4 comp.sys.att 1 comp.sys.att,news.groups,unix-pc.general 12 comp.sys.att,unix-pc.general 3 comp.sys.att,unix-pc.general,news.groups 1 comp.sys.att,unix-pc.sources 16 unix-pc.general 9 unix-pc.general,comp.sys.att 2 unix-pc.sources 2 unix-pc.sources,comp.sys.att 2 unix-pc.test I think the first line is the most interesting - someone is posting to comp.sys.att with a distribution of unix-pc :-) These numbers also indicate articles are being posted to unix-pc.* that are *not* cross-posted to other groups. The next major problem we will run into with the bnews software is how to integrate the non-mainstream top level distributions with the "group of seven" top level categories. The alt groups seem to be doing reasonably well. I think this is due to the uniqueness of the alt groups themselves. You just can't find an unmoderated sources group under comp (that works properly, anyway), and nowhere else are flames "sanctioned" by the "network." If unix-pc is to survive, it too must provide something unique when compared to the mainstream groups covering the same subject areas (comp.sys.att, comp.sources.unix, comp.unix.questions, etc.) In the early days of unix-pc I think (no, I wasn't there) this was achieved by carrying material that fell within very *specific* guidlines (i.e. *One* architecture, *One* OS). The unix-pc groups were an attempt at maintaining an ever growing mailing list by using the bnews distribution system (an experiment that's been on my mind for several months). What appears to be happening is the "mailing list" is now going through an even greater (and more painful) period of growth as comp.sys.att readers scramble onto the unix-pc bandwagon. Most readers of these groups are discussing band-aid solutions to the symptoms they are seeing (massive cross-posting, missing out on material in the "other" groups). It's true that the distribution problem could be "fixed" by ensuring that > 90% of usenet receives and forwards unix-pc, but what is the real result of this? All that's been accomplished is the duplication of existing newsgroups. The underlying problem is that the unix-pc groups are suffering from an identity crisis. If unix-pc simply duplicates the status quo it is doomed to failure. It will survive only if it offers something unique and different. --lyndon alberta!ncc!lyndon