Xref: utzoo comp.graphics:2118 news.groups:3132
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att-cb!att-ih!alberta!cdshaw
From: cdshaw@alberta.UUCP (Chris Shaw)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics,news.groups
Subject: comp.graphics.newuser
Message-ID: <1182@pembina.UUCP>
Date: 2 Apr 88 10:42:57 GMT
Reply-To: cdshaw@alberta.UUCP (Chris Shaw)
Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Lines: 56

A couple of days ago I half-proposed the idea of a subgroup for comp.graphics
called comp.graphics.newuser. I am now seeking debate on how it would work.
This is NOT a solicitation for votes under the Usenet rules, since we MUST
know what is going on before voting occurs.

The Intent:

The purpose of the newsgroup is to deflect neophyte questions from the
Terribly Serious Business that goes on in comp.graphics. In particular, the
idea is that this new group would be a repository of information and 
techniques that are germane to computer graphics, but at the same time 
very basic in nature.

It is not the intention that this group stifle discussions of graphics
algorithms in general, since that is the meat of what goes on in 
comp.graphics. The intention IS to stop the endless repetition of questions
like "how do I draw a line quickly?", "What's a raster?", "Why Red Green Blue,
not Red Yellow Blue?".. and so on.

The problem is that many neophyte readers find asking the net much easier than
reading the appropriate reference. Sometimes this is because the neophyte is
lazy, other times because he is otherwise unable to get the answers out of
a book, or is unaware of the literature.

The Mechanics:

Now that we have the idea, how do we do it? I propose the creation of a 
moderated newsgroup. Moderated because the moderator can be the storehouse
of information. Newsgroup because a mailing list defeats the main purpose of
this proposed newsgroup.

The moderator should perhaps be a SIGGRAPH person, since s/he
would know or be able to find the answers to the semi-obscure questions.
The moderator would collect the answers to the various questions, and would
compile a standard reply to each of the "classics" that come up all the time.
When a classic question coes around, the classic reply would be posted/
mailed. Each classic reply should contain specific references to texts,
including page numbers, and so on.

Obviously, the moderator must commit time to reading the mail that comes in,
and to posting both the question and the answer. Another idea is that this
group could be semi-moderated: Anyone can post, but the "moderator" has the
list of standard answers. This reduces the workload to just reply-generation.

Caveat:

I can't moderate for two reasons:
1) I don't feel technically competent enough.
2) I'm not likely to be at this site long enough.

I'v had a couple of positive responses to a vaguer version of this proposal.
What do you guys/gals think?
-- 
Chris Shaw    cdshaw@alberta.UUCP (via watmath, ihnp4 or ubc-vision)
University of Alberta
CatchPhrase: Bogus as HELL !