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From: s30986u@kaira.hut.fi (Martin Helin)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: CALL FOR IDEAS:  Breakdown of rec.pets into subcategories
Summary: I support the idea
Message-ID: <1990Aug3.072628.9774@santra.uucp>
Date: 3 Aug 90 07:26:28 GMT
References: <1873@lectroid.sw.stratus.com> <369@spam.ua.oz>
Sender: news@santra.uucp (Cnews - USENET news system)
Reply-To: s30986u@kaira.hut.fi (Martin Helin)
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, FINLAND
Lines: 27

In article <369@spam.ua.oz> wvenable@spam.ua.oz (Bill Venables) writes:

>> I propose a breakdown of rec.pets into (possibly):
>> Jointly, I propose the renaming of rec.birds to rec.birdwatching.

I strongly support the idea. Those of you who are interested in
both rec.pets.birds and rec.birdwatching find little difficulty
to subscribe to both groups. 

>What I would suggest, however, is that if the ornithological side is to
>split off we should go all the way and rename the group `sci.ornithology'.
>
>This is one of the few sciences where large accumulations of anecdotal
>evidence are important, and patient and dedicated amateurs can still make a
>useful contributrion and be taken seriously.  It is much more than just a
>recreation.

Although this is very much true I find it unnecessary. Let's keep it
light and avoid unnecessary thresholds for those who don't regard
their birdwatching as science.

			Martin

Keep the discussion going on.
Martin Helin	Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Internet : 	mhe@otax.tky.hut.fi    s30986u@kaira.hut.fi	
UUCP     :      uunet!kaira.hut.fi!s30986u