Xref: utzoo news.admin:3120 news.software.b:1500 news.misc:1659 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!uwmcsd1!jgd From: jgd@csd1.milw.wisc.edu (John G Dobnick) Newsgroups: news.admin,news.software.b,news.misc Subject: Default Distribution Proposal Message-ID: <6260@uwmcsd1.UUCP> Date: 23 Jul 88 00:33:40 GMT Sender: daemon@uwmcsd1.UUCP Lines: 49 From article <547@etive.ed.ac.uk>, by news@etive.ed.ac.uk (Network News): > Perhaps the default distribution for create messages should be > "local"? This seems to be a common problem. Been bit by it myself. I would like to expand this a "little". The default distribution for *any* (I repeat: ANY) news posting should be "local"! ^^^^^ Why, you ask? It will help prevent neophytes from embarassing themselves and annoying other sites with "Dinette set for Sale" messages from AT&T (used to be New Jersey, now Denver seems to have taken the lead). This may "encourage" users to "learn" about the news software. (Or at least make them learn about it *before* they become net.pests. :-) ) It may also help reduce the number and amount of "followups" that have added to the current "flame war" currently raging in news.admin, among other places. (If we assume that most "followupers" followup in the "heat of the moment", they *may* just forget to change the Distribution: line. This is a "win" for the net.) It seems to me that this is the polite and reasonable *default*, as it will affect the smallest number of sites and individuals. Surely you can think of other good reasons. So --- Is this something that can be added to the current (2.11) news software easily? Yet another patch file for news 2.11 is not unreasonable. I can even see this as a site configuration option -- but would still lobby for the *default* configuration being "local" distribution. I would also like to see the other news developers out there (3.0? NNTP? "C"-news?) implement this. [No flames or even "discussion" about how it won't work because of all the people who don't/won't upgrade. Not germane to my point. If the software is available, *some* sites will use it. It *will* spread, albeit slowly. That in itself would satisfy my request.] Thank you. -- John G Dobnick Computing Services Division @ University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee UUCP: !uwvax!uwmcsd1!jgd INTERNET: jgd@csd4.milw.wisc.edu "Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight." -- William Safire