bobgian@psuvax.UUCP (01/13/84)
Responses so far have strongly favored my creating a moderated newsgroup
as a sub to net.ai for this course. Most were along these lines:
From: ukc!srlm (S.R.L.Meira)
I think you should act as the moderator, otherwise there would be too
much noise - in the sense of unordered information and discussions -
and it could finish looking like just another AI newsgroup argument.
Anybody is of course free to post whatever they want if they feel
the thing is not coming out like they want.
Also, if the course leads to large volume, many net.ai readers (busy AI
professionals rather than students) might drop out of net.ai.
For a contrasting position:
From: cornell!nbires!stcvax!lat
I think the course should be kept as a newsgroup. I don't think
it will increase the nation-wide phone bills appreciably beyond
what already occurs due to net.politics, net.flame, net.religion
and net.jokes.
So HERE's how I'll try to keep EVERYBODY happy ... :-)
... a "three-level" communication channel. 1: a "free-for-all" via mail
(or possibly another newsgroup), 2: a moderated newsgroup sub to net.ai,
3: occasional abstracts, summaries, pointers posted to net.ai and AIList.
People can then choose the extent of their involvement and set their own
"bull-rejection threshold". (1) allows extensive involvement and flaming,
(2) would be the equivalent of attending a class, and (3) makes whatever
"good stuff" evolves from the course available to all others.
The only remaining question: should (1) be done via a newsgroup or mail?
Please send in your votes -- I'll make the final decision next week.
Now down to the REALLY BIG decisions: names. I suggest "net.ai.cse"
for level (2). The "cse" can EITHER mean "Computer Science Education"
or abbreviate "course". For level (1), how about "net.ai.ffa" for
"free-for-all", or .raw, or .disc, or .bull, or whatever.
Whatever I create gets zapped at end of course (June), unless by then it
has taken on a life of its own.
-- Bob
[PS to those NOT ON USENET: please mail me your address for private
mailings -- and indicate which of the three "participation levels"
best suits your tastes.]
--
Bob Giansiracusa (Dept of Computer Science, Penn State Univ, 814-865-9507)
UUCP: bobgian@psuvax.UUCP -or- allegra!psuvax!bobgian
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