Xref: utzoo comp.graphics:2180 news.groups:3211
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!cornell!rochester!rocksanne!entire!news
From: news@entire.UUCP (Usenet News Administrator)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics,news.groups
Subject: Re: comp.graphics.newuser
Message-ID: <3165@entire.UUCP>
Date: 5 Apr 88 14:55:56 GMT
References: <1182@pembina.UUCP>
Organization: Entire Inc, East Rochester, NY
Lines: 38
Summary: Try a "Most asked questions" posting once a month.

In article <1182@pembina.UUCP>, cdshaw@alberta.UUCP (Chris Shaw) writes:
> 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.

In newusers there is a posting that goes out on the net.  This posting contains
answers to the "most asked questions" on the net.  I recommend that you or
the group readers at large collect the "classic" questions and the answers with
good references, and on a monthly basis, or as often as necessary, repost the
article in comp.graphics or mail it to the neophyte. 

Another possibilty is to use a "longer" than normal expire header on the
posting, say one month, and then repost the newer one with an Superceeds
header.  This way when ever a neophyte selects this group this "classics"
posting would always be there to read.

> The purpose of the newsgroup is to deflect neophyte questions from the
> Terribly Serious Business that goes on in comp.graphics. In particular, the

An important part of any "Terribly Serious Business" is the teaching or helping
of a neophyte, no question is stupid it is simply mis-guided.  Remember we were
all a neophyte at one time :-), it helps to make it a pleasent transition.

> 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

My above "soapbox" speach was not a flame.  I agree with you in "It is not the
intention that this group stifle....", it's just important to direct "endless"
questions, and I think that this can be done within the scope of the existing
newsgroup.
-- 
John A. Gallant                 UUCP:  {..}!rochester!rocksanne!entire!news
Defacto Usenet News Administrator
Entire Inc./Xerox

    Get your facts first,
	and then you can distort them as much as you please.
    Mark Twain