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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!mcvax!boring!guido
From: guido@boring.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Suggestion for Europe dumping newsgroups
Message-ID: <6393@boring.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Apr-85 12:52:38 EST
Article-I.D.: boring.6393
Posted: Mon Apr 22 12:52:38 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Apr-85 20:11:33 EST
References: <1639@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Reply-To: guido@mcvax.UUCP (Guido van Rossum)
Organization: "Stamp Out BASIC" Committee, CWI, Amsterdam
Lines: 19
Apparently-To: rnews@mcvax.LOCAL


[Xavier suggests a default distribution of 'na'.]

Sorry, but I do not agree.  This would mean that Europe would also receive
almost no messages in 'technical' newsgroups such as net.lang.c, net.unix,
net.micro.* and what have you.  The existence of these groups is still the
most important reason why Europe is attached to USENET, and I would hate
to see them go.

Not to stir up this discussion again, but in my view a newsgroup can only
function well when the number of readers and contributers stays below a
certain level.  Above this level repeated questions of newcomers and flaming
tend to make all other traffic impossible.  To restrict the number of
readers/ contributors, a group must either have a very specialized topic
or be geographically restricted.  For topics of wide interest, there can be
worldwide 'magazine-like' groups which receive selected articles from local
or specialized groups.

	Guido van Rossum, "Stamp Out BASIC" Committee, CWI, Amsterdam
	guido@mcvax.UUCP