Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84 chuqui version 1.7 9/23/84; site nsc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!gatech!nsc!chuqui
From: chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Cheshire Chuqui)
Newsgroups: net.news
Subject: Re: satellite netnews
Message-ID: <1886@nsc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Nov-84 13:06:51 EST
Article-I.D.: nsc.1886
Posted: Tue Nov 20 13:06:51 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Nov-84 01:35:53 EST
References: <>
Reply-To: chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Cheshire Chuqui)
Organization: The Bistro
Lines: 54
Summary: 

In article <450@vortex.UUCP> lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) writes:
>However, it is my own opinion that sooner or later the current
>system will break down from sheer volume

Remember a few months back when there was a discussion about whether the
net would collapse in September when the students came back? Last I looked,
it was November... 

Seriously, I've noticed a distinct change in the way news is travelling
over the last few months. I was just as worried as Lauren that the net
would suffocate on its own success-- now I'm rather confident that the net
is on rather strong foundations-- the net is no longer growing without
bounds, it is starting to metamorph. It is, mostly, maturing. Moderated
groups, while not completely operational now because of black holes, are
starting to clean up some of the real ugly areas on the net and has the
potential for doing a lot more. Even more important to me is the creation
of some of the mailing lists such as the Christian list and mail.feminists.
These lists help to make sure that the information goes only to the people
that are interested in it. In many ways, they take moderated groups to the
logical end because there is a moderator keeping the junk out, and a group
of people on the other who are interested, and those that aren't interested
don't even have to bother to store or ignore it. 

Some people have looked at the mailing lists as restrictive-- I look at it
as just the opposite. I suggest that we not only admit to their existence,
I suggest we publicsize them, promote them, and consider creating new ones
where appropriate. A lot of the new groups people keep suggesting would
work MUCH better as mailing lists because the audience really is rather
small (how about mail.radio_control, mail.music.jazz, etc...). There are
some groups that will always be better served by the widest possible
audience (such as unix-wizards, sources, singles, etc...) but a lot of the
marginal groups might be better off as mailing lists.

If people are interested, I'm willing to keep a list of publicly available
mailing lists and post that list on a regular basis. this list should have
the name of the list, a short description of it's purpose, and a contact person
for getting list. If you are running a list that is open to the public
(rather than private or invitation only) feel free to drop me a line.

comments, of course, are welcome.

chuq
[Usenet may be a slow parody of itself, but even so it tends to come up
with appropriate solutions when needed. Sometimes in spite of itself. That
is what makes it work, that is what makes it fun to be around]

-- 
From the Department of Bistromatics:                   Chuq Von Rospach
{cbosgd,decwrl,fortune,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo}!nsc!chuqui  nsc!chuqui@decwrl.ARPA

  This plane is equipped with 4 emergency exits, at the front and back of
  the plane and two above the wings. Please note that the plane will be
  travelling at an average altitude of 31,000 feet, so any use of these
  exits in an emergency situation will most likely be futile.