Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wyse!vsi1!ames!nrl-cmf!ukma!rutgers!att!mtunb!dmt
From: dmt@mtunb.ATT.COM (Dave Tutelman)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: How can a moderator take a vacation? (Re: comp.sources.unix)
Summary: Automatically post everything
Message-ID: <1326@mtunb.ATT.COM>
Date: 22 Nov 88 13:12:57 GMT
References: <184@twwells.uucp> <7681@well.UUCP> <200@twwells.uucp>
Reply-To: dmt@mtunb.UUCP (Dave Tutelman)
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs - Lincroft, NJ
Lines: 44

Opening disclaimer:  I really do appreciate what the moderators do
for the source and binaries groups:
   -	Reduce clutter by redirecting non-program submissions to
	the .d groups.
   -	Repackage for uniformity.
   -	Some do test submissions, though I suspect this is rare.
   -	... (are there others I'm overlooking?) ...
All these functions are important conveniences.  They save the readers
much time and save the net a certain amount of bandwidth (perhaps not
much; not much of the stuff gets killed rather than redirected?).

HOWEVER, it IS a convenience and not a necessity.  We need to evaluate
the relative cost of short UNMODERATED periods of an otherwise
moderated group.  (The suggestion of automatic posting, perhaps with
an "at" script, was made by someone else; sorry I can't credit him/her
properly, but I've lost the posting.)  Here's my contribution to the
debate:

ADVANTAGES:
   -	Programs would be posted shortly after their announcement in
	related groups.  (I've announced programs in, say, rec.bicycles
	or comp.sys.ibm.pc, and had to deal with mail for
	a week or two asking why the reader hadn't seen it yet.)
   -	Smoother flow of postings, without "dry spells".
   -	We'd have more appreciation of the moderator on his/her return.

DISADVANTAGES:
   -	(Perhaps biggest problem) Programs would probably be posted
	whose format is in conflict with what's expected by
	somebody's archiving software.  (Is this fear real?)
   -	Without discipline, some discussion will appear in a program group.
   -	(Unlikely paranoia) Unprincipled posters will take the opportunity
	to post a trojan horse or virus.  (Only matters in those groups
	where the moderator does extensive testing.  Do such groups
	exist?)

Am I naive?  What other pros and cons are there?

+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|    Dave Tutelman						|
|    Physical - AT&T Bell Labs  -  Lincroft, NJ			|
|    Logical -  ...att!mtunb!dmt				|
|    Audible -  (201) 576 2442					|
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