Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version VT1.00C 11/1/84; site vortex.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!vortex!lauren
From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Packet radio digest on net.ham-radio -- A BAD IDEA
Message-ID: <675@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Jun-85 04:59:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: vortex.675
Posted: Sat Jun  1 04:59:56 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 5-Jun-85 00:52:59 EDT
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 31

Without any discussion, I now see that somebody is posting the entire
transactions of the packet radio mailing list onto net.ham-radio
(the first such "digest" was over 30K bytes).  This is getting silly.
The reason a mailing list was set up instead of a newsgroup was to
avoid having the lengthy and fairly esoteric discussions about AX.25,
TCP/IP, and similar topics being forced down the throats of net.ham-radio
readers who might not wish to receieve such materials at this time.

Anybody on the nets can subscribe directly to the list if they
are interested in the topic.  Posting all of the transactions to
net.ham-radio simply doubles the traffic to the members of the list,
most of whom are already receiving net.ham-radio.  This is costing
people REAL MONEY.  If there is a massive outcry for all the nitty-
gritty packet radio technical discussions and arguing to be widely
posted, then a separate newsgroup should be used.  In that case the
mailing list could be dissolved.  But having the mailing list and 
then reposting to net.ham-radio is just wasting disk space and money.

Personally, I think that this is a classic case where mailing lists
are superior to newsgroups.  But it should be EITHER the mailing
list OR a SEPARATE newsgroup apart from the top-level net.ham-radio.
I would prefer to see the former.  But it is extremely wasteful
to do both.

--Lauren--

P.S.  Due to other gatewaying that I know is going on, there are
now some groups of people who will receive THREE copies of all
packet radio messages thanks to the most recent "digest" postings.

--LW--