Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!ginosko!uunet!cyclops!csense!bote
From: bote@csense.UUCP (John Boteler)
Newsgroups: news.newusers.questions
Subject: Re: How do I know posting protocol for certain newsgroups?
Message-ID: <380@csense.UUCP>
Date: 5 Oct 89 01:32:46 GMT
References: <17072@rpp386.Dallas.TX.US>
Distribution: na
Organization: Common Sense Computing, McLean Va
Lines: 35

From article <17072@rpp386.Dallas.TX.US>, by aubrey@rpp386.Dallas.TX.US (Aubrey McIntosh):
> One thing I have come to believe in the last several years is that
> the approach I have to things represents many other people as well...
> 
> Appoint a "keeper of the introduction."...
> Write an article about the goals, purpose, archive sites, and local
> etiquette for the [group]

Great minds do think alike :) :)

In fact, I have done something very similar to this in rec.nude,
since the entry in the ~/newsgroups file is only marginally descriptive
(what do you want for one line of text?)

I put together three text files which I post at approximately
1 month intervals describing the basis and purpose of the group,
essentially the "charter" of the newsgroup as it now applies;
a dictionary and thesaurus of terms with which many newcomers 
may be unfamiliar; and a list of organizations one may write
for more information. 

For the regular readers it may be the least bit taxing to view
these periodically, but many others have issued forth with thanks
for the info, since it obviated some questions of theirs.

By the way, I use the Expire: line in these postings, but I don't
think my stinko news software cares about that: it trashes them
on my system anyway! 

I only wish many other groups did this, such as rec.autos.*

-- 
Bote
Old & Improved path!: uunet!comsea!csense!bote
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