root@uwspan.UUCP (John Plocher) (12/31/87)
First, let me appologize for including this group in this posting. I
wanted to catch any Microport users that read this.
[ It was also posted to comp.unix.questions and news.sysadmin -John ]
I understand we have had a comp.unix.microport group for several weeks
now, be it a moderated one. What determines wether a newsgroup is to be
moderated or an open group such as this one?
[ The powers that be desire that newsgroups follow a growth path:
email -> mailing list -> moderated group -> unmoderated group
The driving factor is economics of scale - it is "cheaper" to do
the earlier stages than the later ones. If a group crosses the
threshold (thrashold?) from one to the other it becomes more
"cost" effective to change its status. Thus when a mailing list
grows to over 100 or so subscriptions (or a newgroup gets > 100 votes)
it is "cheaper" to make it a moderated newsgroup.
To unmoderate a group one would have to *show* that the traffic was such
that a moderator either could not handle it or that having a moderator
was actually detracting from the flow of info. In other words, show that
the group has outgrown the moderation phase.
PS. Being moderator isn't easy - having the group be unmoderated would
save *me* a lot of time! We are hoping that moderation will produce
something good for the group. We are willing to try - are you all
willing to give it a chance?
* cheaper = less total distribution costs ]
From what I've seen so
far the moderated group seems to be quite useless since posting after
posting dissappears off into space never to be heard from again.
[ This is the first message I've received from you, John - if there
was a problem with the others getting to me I'd like to try and
track down the problem. Instead of blaming "Moderation", why not
blame "Mail" or better yet, find out what is wrong and help fix it!
Also remember that a new group takes about 3 months to be created
in enough places to make it an established group ]
I beleive
that a more "semi-real time" group would be more benefeitial since we
could actively discuss the problems and solutions we have without waiting
forever till a posting is made.
[ Your submission was mailed on 22 Dec. It got here at 0231 on 23 Dec.
I was gone for a long weekend and didn't get to it till now. Sorry
for the delay. ]
I have not seen one posting to this group since its creation.
[ there have been at least a dozen sent out - try checking to se if your
neighbours are forwarding the group... ]
Having all the prior postings dumped upon us
at some future date, long after we may or may not have found a solution to
a particular problem doesn't seem to me to do the net resources justice.
[ I agree completely! I hope that this scenario never happens either ]
I am relatively new to the net and please don't misinterpret this as a
flame on the moderator but what is the normal procedure for having the
Microport newsgroup become an "open group" ? Thank you.
[ I don't mind :-) ]
John
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