Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83 v7 ucbtopaz-1.8; site ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ucbvax!ucbtopaz!phoenix From: phoenix@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA Newsgroups: net.news.group Subject: Regional Newsgroups Message-ID: <928@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA> Date: Sun, 5-May-85 23:50:53 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbtopaz.928 Posted: Sun May 5 23:50:53 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 7-May-85 21:08:05 EDT Reply-To: phoenix@ucbtopaz.UUCP () Organization: Univ. of Calif., Berkeley CA USA Lines: 87 Keywords: net.nlang.region, concise, efficient, machine-friendly, long awaited. Summary: The time has come for every region to share its wealth.... [Bug?.... What Bug!] Well folks, the time has come for a newsgroup for every region. In my initial reply to Wale Akinpelu's article I mentioned in passing that it would be a good idea to have such an arrangement. From the postings for net.nlang.spanish and net.nlang.asia, I believe this sentiment is shared by others in net.land. My main concern is that the groups cover the globe as efficiently as possible. If we continue piecemeal, we may end up with a patchwork as unwieldy as net.general and other net groups. I have no doubt that there are enough people out there interested in differant regions that each new group would be reasonably utilized if designed properly. My suggestion, therefore, is that one of the name wizards put together for us a concise, rational, machine-friendly list for our perusal. At the risk of being flamed for any number of things, I shall put forward a *tentative* list here, for all of you to sink your teeth into. [Prepend net.nlang] Region Name Includes ---------- ---------- ----------------------------------------------- Sub-Sahara .africa Whole continent minus: Morrocco, Algeria, Africa Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Middle East .mideast N. Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey (Persia). East Asia .e-asia Japan and Korea South East .se-asia Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Asia Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Phillipines Australia/ .ausnew Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea New Zealand China .china China, Mongolia, Taiwan, Hong Kong India .india India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal West Europe .w-europe Western Europe(unified Germany) and Scandanavia East Europe .slavic Poland, Czech., Hungary, Yug., Bulgaria, Romania, Albania U.S.S.R. .ussr All the many regions of the Soviet Union. South .s-america The whole continent America Central .c-america Mexico to Panama, and the Caribbean America North America .n-america U.S.A. and Canada, plus Greenland - - - - - - - - - - - - If I've left anyone out, or you feel I have glossed something over or offended you in any number of ways, don't shoot me. This is a *rough* listing destined to be modified. It is difficult to meet all of the criteria, including the need to make groups broad enough to ensure a modicum of activity. For instance, I considered a .caribbean instead of including it in .c-america, but I was advised that usage might be too low. I also wished to avoid falling too much into politics, and away from culture and language. This is the reasoning for .slavic instead of .e-europe; however, it is virtually impossible to avoid the 'geopolitique' completely (note .mideast, .se-asia, .n-america, .w-europe, .ussr, etc...). Some final odds and ends: 1) I did not want to include Australia etc. in .se-asia, but I do not know if it will fly on its own. Suggestions? 2) To avoid being too ethno-centric, I included a .n-america; will it be used by the N. American majority, or is there enough interest in the rest of the net? 3) Should we just set up vague regional or cultural catagories, and let it subdivide from there? Come on you netters, mail me some suggestions, or follow-up here. Let us decide if this is a good way to avoid the ensuing mess. Remember, if some of these groups do not work out this time around, we can always cancel them! I have a feeling a number of you out there are closet region junkies, however. {:-) Be patient on responses, I am going into finals. And, if the below address is for some odd reason not recognized, prepend a decvax! - they *have* to be recognized. {:-) 0 0 (Crises?.... What Crises?) ^ \_/ John Phoenix@ucbtopaz ucbvax!ucbtopaz!phoenix