ckd@bu-pub.bu.edu (Christopher K Davis) (11/18/89)
[Please note! Followups to alt.config, not news.groups!]
>>>>> On 17 Nov 89 03:29:39 GMT, benfeen@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Ben Feen) said:
Ben> Ok, here's an idea; How do you guys feel about alt.kids, rather than
Ben> soc.kids, and the more suggestive rec.kids?
Ben> That way, as I understand it, sites could take it or leave it.
Ben> (Somebody fill me in on the exact difference between alt groups and
Ben> rec., misc, and biz., etc. groups!)
Making it alt.kids sounds fine to me. If there's no massive outcry by
Thanksgiving, I'll newgroup it.
Now, the background for Ben, and a little tongue-in-cheek commentary for
everyone else [hit 'n' if you don't care]:
The difference between alt. and mainstream groups
[i.e. {comp,rec,sci,misc,soc,talk,news}.all]
as seen by Chris Davis.
DISCLAIMER: I am not the Backbone Cabal.
alt.groups can be created by anyone. However, this is counterbalanced by
the fact that they can be *removed* by anyone. This is what happens to
frivolous newsgroups, like alt.sex.carasso, that are created without so
much as a 'by-your-leave' in alt.config. [Topical reference: this article
is, basically, the "fair warning" part of the alt.niceties.] At times, the
creation (and removal, and re-creation, and re-removal...) of an alt.group
will be accompanied by flame wars in one or more of the following:
The new group itself
alt.config
alt.flame
Mainstream groups can also be created by anyone. However, with these
groups, it is required that they first have a Call for Discussion, then a
Call for Votes, then a Call for Flames, then a Call for Vote Flames, and
then Jeff Daiell will start a pun thread. [Note for the humor-impaired: I
am not serious. Jeff will usually start the pun thread *before* the Call
for Flames.] Then a gazillion people will vote, the vote will either pass
or not pass, and 20 people will start complaining that their votes were not
received and that the vote was crooked. The flame wars will be in one or
more of the following groups, but not limited thereto:
news.groups
alt.flame
alt.aquaria
talk.bizarre
misc.test
rec.humor.funny
The advantages of the mainstream system are that flame wars are usually
seen both before and after the creation of the group.
That and the puns.
--
Christopher Davis, BU SMG '90 <ckd@bu-pub.bu.edu> <smghy6c@buacca.bitnet>
"Technology is dominated by those who manage what they do not understand."