Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site maynard.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!panda!talcott!wjh12!maynard!campbell From: campbell@maynard.UUCP (Larry Campbell) Newsgroups: net.news.group Subject: Newsgroup bloat (possible solution) Message-ID: <141@maynard.UUCP> Date: Sat, 31-Aug-85 16:19:18 EDT Article-I.D.: maynard.141 Posted: Sat Aug 31 16:19:18 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 2-Sep-85 04:10:14 EDT Distribution: net Organization: The Boston Software Works Inc., Maynard, MA Lines: 28 It's clear to most USENETters that newsgroup bloat is getting to be a real problem. Several people have correctly suggested using mailing lists for topics of limited interest, since mailing lists place a *much* smaller burden on the network. The trouble with mailing lists (and I think this is a major reason they're not as popular as newsgroups) is that they're nowhere near as visible as newsgroups. All a user has to do is type ? to the "Newsgroups:" prompt in postnews to get a list of possible outlets for his or her pearls of wisdom. Mailing lists are much less visible; I don't even know off the top of my head where to find out what mailing lists exist. I just looked in /usr/lib/news and couldn't find anything. I *know* I have a list of mailing lists *somewhere*, but I can't find it, oh well I'll just post to net.general... A suggestion. How about having a newsgroup for a repeating announcement of mailing lists? Call it net.announce.maillists or something. Perhaps Gene could send out the list every month along with the list of newsgroups. I would argue against having it moderated initially, since some sites don't receive the mod.* groups. Comments? Larry Campbell decvax!genrad The Boston Software Works, Inc. \ 120 Fulton St. seismo!harvard!wjh12!maynard!campbell Boston MA 02109 / / ihnp4 cbosgd ARPA: campbell%maynard.uucp@harvard.arpa