Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!algor2.algorists.com!jeffrey
From: jeffrey@algor2.algorists.com (Jeffrey Kegler)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Semi-moderated newsgroups
Message-ID: <1989Nov19.223239.26100@algor2.algorists.com>
Date: 19 Nov 89 22:32:39 GMT
Reply-To: jeffrey@algor2.ALGORISTS.COM (Jeffrey Kegler)
Organization: Algorists, Inc.
Lines: 29

Consider, as examples, comp.lang.c and comp.unix.wizards.  These
groups have 1) high value; 2) even higher bandwidth and 3) a fair
degree of abuse.

Suppose the following were done.  Create new newsgroup and designate a
moderator.  Have the moderator do the moderation partially via an
automated interface.

One way the interface could behave is as follows.  A number of posters
are "authorities".  One type of good choice for authorities is people
who answer lots of questions, usually in an accurate manner.  The
interface has a list of authorities and passes all their stuff
through, untouched and without delay or interaction with the
moderator.  Postings by others are dealt with by the moderator.

He can deal with the remainder by a combination of strategies.  Stuff
that he deems inappropriate he rejects (informing the poster) or asks
for a rewrite of.  If the newsgroup volume is high, he puts questions
in a waiting list (informing the poster of this).  If a poster submits
reasonably good stuff, he is added to the "authorities" list for
automatic pass through.

I will be interested in hearing from the net.wise on the
(in)advisability of the above.
-- 

Jeffrey Kegler, Independent UNIX Consultant, Algorists, Inc.
jeffrey@algor2.ALGORISTS.COM or uunet!algor2!jeffrey
1762 Wainwright DR, Reston VA 22090