cup@bones.biochem.ualberta.ca (03/19/91)
I'm in the process of setting up 20-30 users with the Intelligenetics
IG-suite software. I was thinking of using a local USENET group to
answer questions about it's use... why answer the same question
20 times! It would also be a good way to introduce everyone here
to the other Mol-Biol groups.
I'd like to know if there'd be any interest in seeing a more
widespread distribution of such a group. Maybe it's too narrow a
topic? Maybe there's other similar local groups already in existance.
Chris Upton
usercu11@mts.ucs.ualberta.cakristoff@genbank.bio.net (David Kristofferson) (03/22/91)
Chris, As you are undoubtedly aware, there is a similar newsgroup for the GCG software. When that one was started people asked me about discussing these things on BIO-SOFTWARE. I said then and still maintain that questions about *any* commercial software package can be posted to that newsgroup. I'm not sure that it is in BIOSCI's mandate to establish separate newsgroups for commercial software packages and particularly in this case where I could be construed as having a conflict of interest I am not going to promote IG in preference to others. NSFnet regulations do permit commercial firms to provide support to their research and educational customers over the network, so the commercial side of IG could establish a mailing list (a USENET group is a different issue) for this purpose. This would have to be done outside the auspices of BIOSCI/bionet. Alternatively any group is free to conduct these kinds of discussions on the BIO-SOFTWARE newsgroup. I think that there is one important point that I should emphasize here. I occasionally see references to the bionet USENET newsgroups as being "run by IntelliGenetics." While that is true in one sense in as much as the technical maintenance of the groups occurs at IG, those who construe that to mean that IG exercises some kind of censorship over these newsgroups or would be offended if other commercial software, etc., were mentioned on these groups would be seriously mistaken. These are open forums available for use by the scientific community. My only guidelines when it comes to mentioning commercial products on the networks are 1) please include disclaimers indicating that you do not have a financial interest in the product or company involved (in my case I am obviously an employee of IntelliGenetics). 2) please refrain from inflammatory comments such as "Product X is a #!@#$%^& of %%^^&*" If anyone has a gripe about a product, just stick to posting the facts, please. The INFO-GCG newsgroup has demonstrated that discussions can be held in a manner helpful to everyone without resorting to flames. This is basically all of the action that I am going to take in this regards. If a separate list, e.g., INFO-IG, is desired, it will have to be done outside of the auspices of BIOSCI because it would be inappropriate for BIOSCI to get involved in this kind of thing unless it provided similar newsgroups for other major packages as well. Although I did get involved a few years back in an attempt to provide this kind of service for GCG, IG, IBI, Beckman, etc., on BIONET after being approached by others who thought that this would be a big service, the attempt soaked up a fair amount of my time and never resulted in much usage so I am not eager to dive in again. Sincerely, Dave Kristofferson GenBank Manager kristoff@genbank.bio.net (coming to you live from the Georgetown Inn in beautiful Washington DC!) (Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in the Georgetown Inn except for the bill that I am going to have to pay them 8-)!