Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!ucsd!ames!saturn!xanthian
From: xanthian@saturn.ADS.COM (Metafont Consultant Account)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: Re: REC.ARTS.CINEMA -- drawing the discussion to a close?
Message-ID: <10464@saturn.ADS.COM>
Date: 17 Jan 90 10:22:07 GMT
References: <11015@attctc.Dallas.TX.US> <775@unix386.Convergent.COM>
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mt. View, CA (415) 960-7300
Lines: 39

In article <775@unix386.Convergent.COM> dougm@unix386.Convergent.COM (The Manic Tinker) writes:
>In article <11015@attctc.Dallas.TX.US>, rissa@attctc.Dallas.TX.US (Patricia O Tuama) writes:
>> Moderation should only be used as a last resort.  Why not set this
>> group up as unmoderated, someone can volunteer to write and post the
>> monthly article explaining what belongs in r.a.m and what belongs in
>> the proposed group, try it for four or five months and see how it
>> goes?
>
>This compromise seems quite reasonable, although four or five months
>seems a bit long to me (I think three would be plenty).  Discussion?

Better - set it up as moderated, run it for four or five months, and
gauge both the quality of the resulting group, and the number of
screaming flames posted in rec.arts.movies wrapped around postings
rejected by the rec.arts.cinema moderator.  If the latter is either a
null set, or from the class of known uncontrolled flaming addicts
whom moderation was designed to exclude, smile softly and enjoy your
success and good fortune.

Contrariwise, if the flambe-wrapping surrounds articles which contain
cool, reasoned discussion entirely appropriate to rec.arts.cinema,
entertain a motion to replace the moderator or to unmoderate the
group.

From the posting habits of those urging an unmoderated group, I can
promise you that you will be much more happy with the group with this
approach than with one leaving it open to their depradations.  Ad
hominem arguments are entirely appropriate when it is exactly the
referenced person's track record you need to consider when trying to
predict the future.  So, look who's arguing for unmoderation, and
remember what you thought of their postings here recently.

--
Again, my opinions, not the account furnishers'.

xanthian@well.sf.ca.us  xanthian@ads.com (Kent Paul Dolan)
Kent, the (bionic) man from xanth, now available as a build-a-xanthian
kit at better toy stores near you.  Warning - some parts proven fragile.
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