brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) (03/06/85)
There are some people who don't think the net Signal to Noise ratio has dropped close to zero. How many of you are old time netters? Perhaps you just don't realise what a good thing this net can be when it isn't a shouting match. The net is a lot of fun, but right now it's barely a fraction of what it can be. If this sounds like "good old days" stuff, remember that those good old days are under 4 years ago and still fresh in my memory. Back then you heard intersting opinions, new facts and you were listened to. Today you hear flames, hundredfold repetitions of things you already know and to get heard you have to yell as loud as the rest. This doesn't mean a big net can't work. But a big anarchy net is failing before our eyes. -- Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473
jmc@ptsfb.UUCP (Jerry Carlin) (03/08/85)
One thing that CompuServe did for the IBM PC SIG that might help is to
create groups for new users. Part of the problem is that new users will
tend to ask the same questions as old timers did a few years ago. Thus
we might have net.unix.newcomers.
If we expand the concept of newusers files this might also help. We
could perhaps create a 'database' of such things as answers to commonly
asked questions, handy techniques and explanations to tricky (and common)
problems. This would be an 'archiver' not a moderator since the person
would operate after the fact.
--
voice=415 774-9918
uucp={ihnp4,ucbvax,cbosgd,decwrl,amd,fortune,zehntel}!dual!ptsfa!pbauae!jerry