Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site looking.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: net.news.group
Subject: The high readership of mod.newprod shows up a net falacy.
Message-ID: <506@looking.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Mar-86 03:06:57 EST
Article-I.D.: looking.506
Posted: Thu Mar 20 03:06:57 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Mar-86 04:51:29 EST
References: <5446@glacier.ARPA>
Reply-To: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd. Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 31
Summary: 

>
>TOP 40 NEWSGROUPS IN ORDER BY POPULARITY
>       V       V        V        V
>  7  9423     7.91     4.23    16.66  mod.sources
>  8  9412     1.12     4.23    16.64  net.jobs

>  9  8689     0.00     3.90    15.36  mod.newprod

> 10  7641     2.16     3.43    13.51  net.unix
> 11  7641     0.00     3.43    13.51  mod.os.unix
> 12  7285     2.55     3.27    12.88  net.micro
> 13  7264     3.13     3.26    12.84  net.unix-wizards

While the survey isn't very scientific (Although I got a good chuckle out
of the posting that complained about the "accuracy" of the figures!)
it does seem fairly clear that readership in mod.newprod and net.jobs is
very, very high.  Higher than unix groups, perhaps?

So why do people sometimes speak of a "net concensus" against the types of
commercial postings that occur in these groups?  I suspect it's just because
a few people yell a lot when they see these postings.  It looks as though
much of the net wants to see them a great deal.

mod.newprod was created, in theory, by some people who wanted to keep
commercial new product announcements out of the regular groups.  Turns
out they are one of the higher demand things that can occur in these groups.
Most people would like to see new product announcements in their field of
interest.  The idea of a special group for them is odd.  That's probably
why the volume in that group has been so low.
-- 
Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473