Path: utzoo!attcan!lsuc!ncrcan!ontenv!soley
From: soley@ontenv.UUCP (Norman S. Soley)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Re: Promoting "inet" to "world"
Message-ID: <394@ontenv.UUCP>
Date: 31 Jan 89 15:23:54 GMT
References: <5917@medusa.cs.purdue.edu>
Organization: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto
Lines: 56

In article <5917@medusa.cs.purdue.edu>, spaf@cs.purdue.EDU (Gene Spafford) writes:
> 
> Thus, I believe that the time has come to turn the "inet" groups into
> regular "world" groups.  I am seeing postings and getting mail on a
> regular basis that indicates that sites are seeing "leakage" of the
> inet groups into the mainstream.  I also keep seeing postings
> suggesting new groups on topics already covered by existing inet
> groups.
> 
> This is not like creating a new group (or 51 groups): some of these
> "inet" groups have existed as mailing lists perhaps as long (or longer
> than) the Usenet, so their longevity and volume have already been
> demonstrated.  Furthermore, they are already carried by hundreds of
> Usenet sites.  Thus, conducting a poll seems to be less than
> appropriate.
> 
> Instead, I propose that people just post an comments *against* the
> merger.  If you feel there is a good reason not to promote the groups,
> register it here so people can evaluate your objections.  Should no
> objections be raised unanswered by mid-January, I'll ask the people
> running the gateways to make the necessary configuration change.
> 
> If you think this approach is inappropriate, post about that too.
> I've already found lots of people in favor of the change, and anyone
> currently carrying the inet groups will never note a change.  So, it
> is incumbent on anyone with objections to raise them now.

A number of people have reaised legitimate concerns that SOME of the
inet groups do not rate sufficient readership for conversion into full
USENET groups, I also agree with Gene that polls would be inappropriate. 
Thus I'd  like to suggest that it may be appropriate to take a compromise 
approach which will allow the net community to "vote with our feet".

-	Gene posts an inet checkgroups message to the world along with
	the regular USENET checkgroups message with a short message at 
	the head explaining why it's been posted.

-	Site admins wishing (or willing?) to add the inet groups run
	the message and create the groups. 

-	After a reasonable waiting period (two or three months) all of 
	the inet groups showing sufficient readership in the arbitron 
	results get moved into the regular distribution. 

-	At this point the descision could be made to keep the remaining 
	groups running exactly the way they are now (preferably with a 
	new top level name to stop the leakage problem), or do something 
	else with them (like turn them back into mailing lists, or merge 
	them with a regular distribution group).

It's just a suggestion.
-- 
Norman Soley - Data Communications Analyst - Ontario Ministry of the Environment
UUCP:	uunet!mnetor!ontmoh!ontenv!soley	         VOICE:	+1 416 323 2623
OR:     soley@ontenv.UUCP 
              "I'm going to Disneyland" -- T. Bundy, Jan 24, 1989