Aihps3.170
net.news
utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!mhtsa!ihnss!ihps3!pcl
Mon Nov 30 11:24:48 1981
Re:  complain, complain, ...

As I understand the documentation for netnews (Version A), the dot ('.')
in the news group names are like the slashes in UNIX (TM) filenames.  If
they really work this way, then why not "net.rec.scuba", "net.rec.ski",
etc, and "net.auto.vwrabbit", "net.auto.ford", ....  The car enthusiast
could then subscribe to "net.auto" (= "net.auto.ALL"), while others
could still be more selective.  One point that may need to be defined is
under what conditions one would see an article posted just to
"net.auto", without any subcategorization.

While on the topic of news group names, I would like to remind everyone
that an article is posted to a LIST of news groups, not just a single
group.  Thus, the item can be distributed on all relevant news groups,
without sending it out more than once.  For example, the recent
Aviation Week items on the space shuttle should probably have been
posted to both net.columbia as well as net.aviation. Likewise, an
article on using VWs as diving bells (well, they're NEARLY airtight)
could be posted on both net.rec.scuba and net.auto.vwrabbit.

				Paul Lustgarten
				Bell Labs - Indian Hill