Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!shadooby!samsung!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ark1!ark1!dsill
From: dsill@ark1.nswc.navy.mil (Dave Sill)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: Re: Fundraising on the net
Message-ID: <1989Nov22.172832.8413@relay.nswc.navy.mil>
Date: 22 Nov 89 17:28:32 GMT
References: <1989Nov21.212300.19168@talos.uucp> <36577@apple.Apple.COM> <1989Nov18.044942.26624@relay.nswc.navy.mil>
Sender: news@relay.nswc.navy.mil (News)
Reply-To: Dave Sill <dsill@relay.nswc.navy.mil>
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren VA
Lines: 45

In article <1989Nov21.212300.19168@talos.uucp>, kjones@talos.uucp (Kyle
Jones) writes:
> Dave Sill writes:
>  > Recently, I brought up the topic of a newsgroup for just that purpose.
>  > All of the dozen or so replies I received were favorable, and if we
>  > could find a suitable moderator I think it'd pass.  What's wrong with
>  > one more group Chuq?  Especially one that could funnel some positive
>  > energy outside the net?
> 
> Putting all the solicitors in one newgroup would be like putting all the
> commercials on one channel on TV.  No one would watch that channel and
> no one will read that newsgroup, at least not for long.

Did you know that West German TV, run by the Bundespost, runs
commercials in two daily blocks?  Wanna bet whether anybody watches
them?  I watched a tape of them once.  They were quite entertaining,
and were punctuated by short, amusing animated blurbs.  Everyone
bitches about commercials on TV because they're constantly
interrupting what we're watching.  Most people won't admit it, but
they *do* rely on commercials as source of information; and I suspect
a commercial-only channel could be quite successful.

> Also, it could turn into quite a mess.  Where do you draw the line?  Do
> you allow religious or quasi-religious groups to canvass here?  How
> about political or quasi-political organizations?  Would the United
> Negro College Fund be OK?  

First of all, it would have to be moderated.  That would take care of
frivolous or dubious causes.  The moderator would have to be
nonpartisan: not biased for or against any causes, even those he
vehemently opposes.  UNCF would be acceptable, as would Right to Life
and Pro Choice.

> If so, why is it different from the
> solicitations for "JJ's College Fund" we saw a few years ago?

One of the acceptance criteria would prevent self-serving pleas.

> Still, it could do some good in the world.  I believe it's worth discussing.
> Draw up a proposal and issue a call for discussion.

I already did, but since I can't moderate, and nobody else
volunteered, it kind of went into limbo.

Dave Sill (dsill@relay.nswc.navy.mil)