Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site peregrine.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!pesnta!pertec!peregrine!mike
From: mike@peregrine.UUCP (Mike Wexler)
Newsgroups: net.news
Subject: Re: posting followups
Message-ID: <147@peregrine.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Jul-85 19:25:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: peregrin.147
Posted: Tue Jul 30 19:25:58 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 2-Aug-85 22:23:25 EDT
References: <145@peregrine.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Peregrine Systems, Irvine, Ca
Lines: 59

> I have a suggestion on how to stem the tide of repeated postings.
> Only the author of an article posts followups to it.  In effect
> the originator of a discussion becomes the moderator.  This can be 
> enforced in software by make the 'f' command send mail to the author
> of the article unless the person posting the article is the one
> doing the followup.  The 'f' and the 'r' options could even be combined
> into one option.  This would also tend to reduce the number of people
> just posting an article since they would become moderator of that discussion
> and would have to handle all the related mail personally.
> 
The general consensus on this issue is that it is not a good idea.
The reasons given are as follows:
	1. It will slow down the net by requiring message to go to the
	   original poster and then back over the net in the summary 
	   message.
	2. The replies are likely to be censored by the original author.
	   Especially if s/he has an opinion that is opposite the original
	   poster.
	3. The mail capability of the system needs improvement.  Often reply
	   doesn't generate an address which will get the response to the
	   original poster.
	4. You can already post replies and many authors all ready suggest
	   that you send replies to them so that the results can be summarized.
	5. I am told(not verified) that if the followup-to: field contains
	   a network address, all followup will be send to the appropriate
	   person.
	6. That anybody who would say send flames to peregrine!nobody probably
	   would not make a very good moderator. :-)
I did get one response that said that this would be a good idea.
I am planning on modifying reply so that it will use a pathalias
database or changing my send mail to make it more intelligent about
network addresses.  If I choose the former route, I will post the
change to the net.  If I take the latter route I will post a program
the will turn the network maps into a form suitable for use
by the f option of sendmail.
I think that general awareness of the mechanisms currently available
needs to be raised.  People should know better than to post the answer
to a simple question when a simple reply will do and many other people
probably will also have the answer.
BTW I agree that it would be nice to have inews made more intelligent
so that a site can choose to ignore certain articles based on
group/fanin/poster/posting organization/subgect(sic).  Also I think
that network connectivity should be raised so one organization
cutting out a newsgroup will not neccessarily effect a large group of
people.

Please post responses(even flames) to me and I will summarize.

Mike Wexler
15530 Rockfield, Building C
Irvine, Ca 92718
(714)855-3923
(trwrb|pesnta|scgvaxd)!pertec!peregrine!mike
-- 
Mike Wexler
15530 Rockfield, Building C
Irvine, Ca 92718
(714)855-3923
(trwrb|pesnta|scgvaxd)!pertec!peregrine!mike