Newsgroups: news.admin
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Binary groups need their own hierarchy
Message-ID: <1988May24.212901.1579@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <397@pan.UUCP> <5284@sdcrdcf.UUCP> <22773@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Date: Tue, 24 May 88 21:29:01 GMT

>   I think you've missed the point.  By putting binaries in thier
> own top level it requires action to *receive* binary news groups rather
> than block them...

I agree.  My point is that it has a cost, too.  Frankly, the proliferation
of top-level names is out of control, and is starting to be a major pain.
Every time somebody creates a new newsgroup these days it's got to have its
own top-level group, it seems.  The converse of the above is that people
who *want* to get it have to go out of their way to do so, and often have
to start with a complex fishing expedition to try to find a nearby site
that carries what they want.

> It's a great idea.

For those who want to get rid of the binary groups, yes.  For those who
want to continue carrying them, it's a pain.

>  Also, I think the sys file takes the old "\" trick.

This only addresses the mechanics of sys-file editing; it does nothing for
the administrative headaches of 57 top-level groups all coming in by
different paths.
-- 
NASA is to spaceflight as            |  Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
the Post Office is to mail.          | {ihnp4,decvax,uunet!mnetor}!utzoo!henry