Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site genrad.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!john
From: john@genrad.UUCP (John Nelson)
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d,net.news.group
Subject: Re: offensive jokes
Message-ID: <3606@genrad.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Oct-83 09:37:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: genrad.3606
Posted: Tue Oct 25 09:37:25 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Oct-83 02:36:50 EDT
References: <747@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Organization: GenRad, Bolton, Mass.
Lines: 29

I realize that you are just trying to be helpful, but this solution of yours
has already been tried.  Twice.

The first time, the qroup net.jokes.q (for questionable jokes) was created.
However, the problem was that anyone who subscribed to net.jokes would
automatically also be subscribed to net.jokes.q.  Some unsuspecting manager
got an eyeful, and raised a ruckus.

The second time, a new news category was created, and ug.jokes (ug stood for
UGH! I assume), but the problem there was that only a few sites ever created
the group, and so the rest of the net continued posting the offensive stuff
to net.jokes.

The current established convention for posting any offensive material is
to ROT13 it.  This is a very simple algorithm by which text may be
encoded/decoded.  I would be happy to send a copy of a program that
implements this to anyone who wants it.

Actually, any of these schemes will NOT WORK unless the people on the net
CONFORM to the established conventions!  Every september (and january)
newcomers to the net post an inappropriate articles to the net, and the same
issues get raised.  If everyone new to the net would READ the netiquette
article before posting junk to the net, everyone would be MUCH happier!!!!

 /~\
(o o)
| O |   John P. Nelson
 \v/
/---\