[news.announce.newusers] Changes to Rules for posting to Usenet

usenet@gatech.edu (05/03/87)

*** old/rules.n	Wed Apr 29 19:11:42 1987
--- src/rules.n	Sun May  3 13:23:00 1987
***************
*** 1,2 ****
! Newsgroups: mod.announce.newusers
  Expires: 40days
--- 1,2 ----
! Newsgroups: news.announce.newusers
  Expires: 40days
***************
*** 5,7 ****
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 29 November 1986 by spaf@gatech.edu]
  
--- 5,7 ----
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 1 May 1987 by sahayman@math.waterloo.edu (Steve Hayman)]
  
***************
*** 25,27 ****
  you don't know how to use this feature, read "Frequently Submitted
! Items" in another article in mod.announce.newusers.
  
--- 25,27 ----
  you don't know how to use this feature, read "Frequently Submitted
! Items" in another article in news.announce.newusers.
  
***************
*** 36,38 ****
  important that it be of overall benefit to Usenet.  Post to the
! appropriate newsgroup -- mod.newprod -- never to a general purpose
  newsgroup such as "misc.misc".  Clearly mark your article as a product
--- 36,38 ----
  important that it be of overall benefit to Usenet.  Post to the
! appropriate newsgroup -- comp.newprod -- never to a general purpose
  newsgroup such as "misc.misc".  Clearly mark your article as a product
***************
*** 51,57 ****
  ---------	---------	-------
! mod.announce	cbosgd!announce	Important announcements for everyone on the net
! mod.std.c	cbosgd!std-c    ANSI C standards discussion
! mod.std.unix	ut-sally!std-unix	ANSI Unix standards discussion
! mod.std.mumps	plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
! mod.os.unix	cbosgd!unix	Moderated discussion of Unix* features and bugs
  
--- 51,57 ----
  ---------		---------	-------
! news.announce.important cbosgd!announce	Important announcements for everyone 
! comp.std.c		cbosgd!std-c    ANSI C standards discussion
! comp.std.unix		ut-sally!std-unix	ANSI Unix standards discussion
! comp.std.mumps		plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
! comp.unix		cbosgd!unix	Discussion of Unix* features and bugs
  
***************
*** 61,78 ****
  ---------	-----
! mod.announce	Moderated, no direct postings, very important things only.
! misc.wanted	Queries, "I want an x", "Anyone want my x?".  No discussions.
! 		Don't post to more than one xxx.wanted.  Use the smallest
! 		appropriate wanted (e.g. used car ads to nj.wanted.)
  		Requests for sources, termcaps, etc. should go to the
! 		"net.wanted.sources" newsgroup.
! rec.humor	Clean humor only; anything offensive must be rotated; no
! 		discussions -- humor only.  Discussions go in rec.humor.d
! rec.arts.movies	Don't post anything revealing part of a movie without marking
! 		it (spoiler) in the subject.
! news.groups	Discussions about new groups: whether to create them and what
! 		to call them.  Don't post yes/no votes, mail them to the author
! net.sources	Big files such as source code, no discussions.
! 		Bugs and fixes get posted to net.sources.bugs
! misc.test	Use the smallest test group possible, e.g. "test" or "ucb.test".
! 		Say in the body of the message what you are testing.
  
--- 61,80 ----
  ---------		-----
! news.announce.important	Moderated, no direct postings, important things only.
! misc.wanted		Queries, "I want an x", "Anyone want my x?".  No
! 			discussions. Don't post to more than one xxx.wanted. 
! 			Use the smallest appropriate wanted (e.g. used car
! 			ads to nj.wanted.)
  			Requests for sources, termcaps, etc. should go to the
! 			"comp.sources.wanted" newsgroup.
! rec.humor		Clean humor only; anything offensive must be rotated;
! 			no discussions -- humor only.  Discussions go in
! 			rec.humor.d
! rec.arts.movies		Don't post anything revealing part of a movie
! 			without marking it (spoiler) in the subject.
! news.groups		Discussions about new groups: whether to create
! 			them and what to call them.  Don't post yes/no
! 			votes, mail them to the author
! misc.test		Use the smallest test group possible, e.g.
! 			"test" or "ucb.test".  Say in the body of the
! 			message what you are testing.
  
***************
*** 112 ****
--- 114,122 ----
  for such material and viewed as rude by other readers.
+ 
+ If you post an article and remember something you've left out or
+ realize you've made a factual error, you can cancel the article and (if
+ cancelled quickly enough) prevent its distribution.  Then you can
+ correct whatever was wrong and post a new copy.  In "rn" and
+ "readnews", an article that you posted can be cancelled with the "C"
+ command.  Be aware, however, that some people may have already read the
+ incorrect version so the sooner you cancel something, the better.

spaf@arthur.cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford) (10/01/87)

*** old/rules.n	Tue Sep 15 11:42:16 1987
--- src/rules.n	Wed Sep 16 13:34:56 1987
***************
*** 5,7 ****
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 7 September 1987 by spaf@purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
--- 5,7 ----
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 17 September 1987 by spaf@purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
***************
*** 73,74 ****
--- 73,75 ----
  			without marking it (spoiler) in the subject.
+ rec.arts.comics		Same as movies -- mark spoilers in the subject line.
  news.groups		Discussions about new groups: whether to create
-- 
Gene Spafford
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@arthur.cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford) (11/03/87)

*** old/rules.n	Thu Oct  1 08:35:27 1987
--- src/rules.n	Thu Oct  8 19:20:26 1987
***************
*** 73,75 ****
  			without marking it (spoiler) in the subject.
! rec.arts.comics		Same as movies -- mark spoilers in the subject line.
  news.groups		Discussions about new groups: whether to create
--- 73,75 ----
  			without marking it (spoiler) in the subject.
! rec.arts.*		Same as movies -- mark spoilers in the subject line.
  news.groups		Discussions about new groups: whether to create
-- 
Gene Spafford
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (12/02/87)

*** old/rules.n	Mon Nov  2 16:14:33 1987
--- src/rules.n	Sun Nov 29 16:35:55 1987
***************
*** 5,7 ****
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 17 September 1987 by spaf@purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
--- 5,7 ----
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 29 November 1987 by spaf@purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
***************
*** 53,55 ****
  comp.std.c		cbosgd!std-c    ANSI C standards discussion
! comp.std.unix		ut-sally!std-unix	ANSI Unix standards discussion
  comp.std.mumps		plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
--- 53,55 ----
  comp.std.c		cbosgd!std-c    ANSI C standards discussion
! comp.std.unix		uunet!std-unix	Unix standards discussion
  comp.std.mumps		plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
-- 
Gene Spafford
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (01/02/88)

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/rules.n	Fri Jan  1 15:39:33 1988
--- src/rules.n	Thu Dec 10 17:22:31 1987
***************
*** 5,7 ****
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 29 November 1987 by spaf@purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
--- 5,7 ----
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 10 December 1987 by chris@mimsy.umd.edu (Chris Torek)]
  
***************
*** 123 ****
--- 123,131 ----
  incorrect version so the sooner you cancel something, the better.
+ 
+ If the news system rejects a followup due to "more quoted lines than
+ new text," please do not use "filler" lines to make up for this.
+ Instead, if after careful editing, you have more to quote than to
+ write, change the citation character.  For example, in the display
+ editor vi, you could use the incantation:
+ 	:%s/^>/</
+ 
-- 
Gene Spafford
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (02/04/88)

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/rules.n	Fri Jan  1 15:40:36 1988
--- src/rules.n	Wed Jan 13 18:37:26 1988
***************
*** 5,7 ****
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 10 December 1987 by chris@mimsy.umd.edu (Chris Torek)]
  
--- 5,8 ----
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 13 January 1988 by msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) &
! 	weemba@garnet.Berkeley.EDU (Matthew P Wiener)]
  
***************
*** 130,131 ****
--- 131,146 ----
  	:%s/^>/</
+ Be careful not to do the very similar:
+ 	:%s/>/</
+ which will affect >'s that are not being used as the citation
+ character.  (In particular, it will damage the "References" line in the
+ article header.)
+ 
+ In preparing an article, be aware that other people's machines are
+ not the same as yours.  The following is a list of things to keep
+ in mind:
+  * Except for source, keep your lines under 80 characters.
+  * Most special control characters will not work for most readers.
+  * Pictures and diagrams should not use embedded tabs.
+  * Refer to articles by Message-ID, and never by article number.
+  * What you think is the previous article is unlikely to be so elsewhere.
  
-- 
Gene Spafford
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (04/04/88)

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/rules.n	Wed Feb  3 18:18:41 1988
--- src/rules.n	Fri Mar 11 20:40:31 1988
***************
*** 5,8
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 13 January 1988 by msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) &
! 	weemba@garnet.Berkeley.EDU (Matthew P Wiener)]
  

--- 5,8 -----
  Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 11 March 1988 by hoptoad!gnu (John Gilmore) and
! 	spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
***************
*** 11,12
  
  Some newsgroups are intended for discussions and some for announcements

--- 11,13 -----
  
+ 
  Some newsgroups are intended for discussions and some for announcements
***************
*** 19,20
  
  Before posting, think about where your article is going.  If it's

--- 20,22 -----
  
+ 
  Before posting, think about where your article is going.  If it's
***************
*** 28,29
  
  Don't post announcements regarding major news events (e.g. the space

--- 30,32 -----
  
+ 
  Don't post announcements regarding major news events (e.g. the space
***************
*** 34,35
  
  Announcement of professional products or services on Usenet is allowed;

--- 37,39 -----
  
+ 
  Announcement of professional products or services on Usenet is allowed;
***************
*** 46,47
  
  Some newsgroups are moderated.  In these groups, you cannot post

--- 50,52 -----
  
+ 
  Some newsgroups are moderated.  In these groups, you cannot post
***************
*** 82,83
  
  It is perfectly legal to reproduce short extracts of a copyrighted work

--- 87,89 -----
  
+ 
  It is perfectly legal to reproduce short extracts of a copyrighted work
***************
*** 91,92
  
  All opinions or statements made in messages posted to Usenet should be

--- 97,99 -----
  
+ 
  All opinions or statements made in messages posted to Usenet should be
***************
*** 99,100
  
  Posting of information on Usenet is to be viewed as similar to

--- 106,108 -----
  
+ 
  Posting of information on Usenet is to be viewed as similar to
***************
*** 105,106
  
  If you have a standard signature you like to append to your articles,

--- 113,115 -----
  
+ 
  If you have a standard signature you like to append to your articles,
***************
*** 115,117
  other graphics in your signature -- it is not the appropriate place
! for such material and viewed as rude by other readers.
  

--- 124,126 -----
  other graphics in your signature -- it is not the appropriate place
! for such material and is viewed as rude by other readers.
  
***************
*** 117,118
  
  If you post an article and remember something you've left out or

--- 126,128 -----
  
+ 
  If you post an article and remember something you've left out or
***************
*** 125,126
  
  If the news system rejects a followup due to "more quoted lines than

--- 135,137 -----
  
+ 
  If the news system rejects a followup due to "more quoted lines than
***************
*** 137,138
  
  In preparing an article, be aware that other people's machines are

--- 148,150 -----
  
+ 
  In preparing an article, be aware that other people's machines are
***************
*** 146
  

--- 158,176 -----
  
+ 
+ In general, when a mailing to somebody fails, DON'T post a message
+ about it!  Think for a moment:  you are trying to send something to
+ someone on ONE system.  Your message might go through (at most) TEN
+ systems on the way there.  Posting a message in the news sends it to
+ over 7800 systems throughout the world!  There is no way to justify
+ adding to the news load of nearly 8000 machines simply because you
+ cannot determine how to get your mail through.
+ 
+ If your message is important, contact someone who knows more about the
+ mail system and who might be able to help you get your message
+ through.  Your local system administrator, for instance, or the admin
+ of the next site "upstream," might be able to help. You can also send
+ mail to "postermaster" at one of the backbone sites.  Almost all of
+ these people would rather see an occasional plea for help in their
+ mailbox than read another broadcast in the news system.  If your
+ message is *really* important, pick up the phone and try to call the
+ other person.
-- 
Gene Spafford
NSF/Purdue/U of Florida  Software Engineering Research Center,
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (05/09/88)

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/rules.n	Sun Apr  3 18:44:02 1988
--- src/rules.n	Fri Apr 15 00:02:28 1988
***************
*** 4,8
  
! Original-from: mark@cbosgd.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 11 March 1988 by hoptoad!gnu (John Gilmore) and
! 	spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  

--- 4,7 -----
  
! Original-from: mark@att-cb.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 14 April 1988 by spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
***************
*** 57,60
  ---------		---------	-------
! news.announce.important cbosgd!announce	Important announcements for everyone 
! comp.std.c		cbosgd!std-c    ANSI C standards discussion
  comp.std.unix		uunet!std-unix	Unix standards discussion

--- 56,59 -----
  ---------		---------	-------
! news.announce.important att-cb!announce	Important announcements for everyone 
! comp.std.c		att-cb!std-c    ANSI C standards discussion
  comp.std.unix		uunet!std-unix	Unix standards discussion
***************
*** 61,63
  comp.std.mumps		plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
! comp.unix		cbosgd!unix	Discussion of Unix* features and bugs
  

--- 60,62 -----
  comp.std.mumps		plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
! comp.unix		att-cb!unix	Discussion of Unix* features and bugs
  
***************
*** 171,173
  of the next site "upstream," might be able to help. You can also send
! mail to "postermaster" at one of the backbone sites.  Almost all of
  these people would rather see an occasional plea for help in their

--- 170,172 -----
  of the next site "upstream," might be able to help. You can also send
! mail to "postmaster" at one of the backbone sites.  Almost all of
  these people would rather see an occasional plea for help in their
-- 
Gene Spafford
NSF/Purdue/U of Florida  Software Engineering Research Center,
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (05/17/88)

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/rules.n	Sun May  8 23:36:13 1988
--- src/rules.n	Mon May  9 22:09:10 1988
***************
*** 4,7
  
! Original-from: mark@att-cb.att.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 14 April 1988 by spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  

--- 4,7 -----
  
! Original-from: mark@stargate.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 9 May 1988 by spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
***************
*** 56,59
  ---------		---------	-------
! news.announce.important att-cb!announce	Important announcements for everyone 
! comp.std.c		att-cb!std-c    ANSI C standards discussion
  comp.std.unix		uunet!std-unix	Unix standards discussion

--- 56,58 -----
  ---------		---------	-------
! news.announce.important stargate!announce	Important announcements for everyone 
  comp.std.unix		uunet!std-unix	Unix standards discussion
***************
*** 60,62
  comp.std.mumps		plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
! comp.unix		att-cb!unix	Discussion of Unix* features and bugs
  

--- 59,61 -----
  comp.std.mumps		plus5!std-mumps	ANSI Mumps standards discussion
! comp.unix		mcdchg!modunix	Discussion of Unix* features and bugs
  
-- 
Gene Spafford
NSF/Purdue/U of Florida  Software Engineering Research Center,
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (07/27/88)

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/rules.n	Tue May 17 11:46:04 1988
--- src/rules.n	Tue Jul 26 16:55:46 1988
***************
*** 5,7
  Original-from: mark@stargate.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 9 May 1988 by spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  

--- 5,7 -----
  Original-from: mark@stargate.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 26 July 1988 by spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
***************
*** 151,152
   * Except for source, keep your lines under 80 characters.
   * Most special control characters will not work for most readers.

--- 151,157 -----
   * Except for source, keep your lines under 80 characters.
+    (most editors have a fill or format mode that will do this
+     for you automatically)
+  * Right justified text may look "prettier" is some sense, but it
+    is almost always harder to read than leaving ragged right
+    margins; don't justify your articles.
   * Most special control characters will not work for most readers.
***************
*** 155,156
   * What you think is the previous article is unlikely to be so elsewhere.
  

--- 160,163 -----
   * What you think is the previous article is unlikely to be so elsewhere.
+  * Submissions in a single case (all upper or all lower) are
+    difficult to read.
  
***************
*** 169,171
  of the next site "upstream," might be able to help. You can also send
! mail to "postmaster" at one of the backbone sites.  Almost all of
  these people would rather see an occasional plea for help in their

--- 176,178 -----
  of the next site "upstream," might be able to help. You can also send
! mail to "postmaster" at one of the major Usenet sites.  Almost all of
  these people would rather see an occasional plea for help in their
-- 
Gene Spafford
NSF/Purdue/U of Florida  Software Engineering Research Center,
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf

spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) (08/18/88)

This posting contains a listing of differences between the version of 
the article (referenced in the "Subject:" line) just posted to this
group, and the version posted a few weeks ago.  New users may ignore
this posting -- it is intended to enable experienced users
to track changes to the regularly posted Usenet documents.

*** old/rules.n	Tue Jul 26 19:55:28 1988
--- src/rules.n	Wed Aug 17 23:06:26 1988
***************
*** 5,7
  Original-from: mark@stargate.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 26 July 1988 by spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  

--- 5,7 -----
  Original-from: mark@stargate.com (Mark Horton)
! [Most recent change: 17 August 1988 by spaf@cs.purdue.edu (Gene Spafford)]
  
***************
*** 150,154
  in mind:
!  * Except for source, keep your lines under 80 characters.
!    (most editors have a fill or format mode that will do this
!     for you automatically)
   * Right justified text may look "prettier" is some sense, but it

--- 150,154 -----
  in mind:
!  * Except for source, keep your lines under 80 characters, and
!    under 75 if possible.  (most editors have a fill or format
!    mode that will do this for you automatically)
   * Right justified text may look "prettier" is some sense, but it
***************
*** 157,158
   * Most special control characters will not work for most readers.
   * Pictures and diagrams should not use embedded tabs.

--- 157,161 -----
   * Most special control characters will not work for most readers.
+    In fact, the tab and space characters are about the only ones
+    you can be sure work consistently, and tabs aren't always the
+    same from machine to machine.
   * Pictures and diagrams should not use embedded tabs.
-- 
Gene Spafford
NSF/Purdue/U of Florida  Software Engineering Research Center,
Dept. of Computer Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette IN 47907-2004
Internet:  spaf@cs.purdue.edu	uucp:	...!{decwrl,gatech,ucbvax}!purdue!spaf