Path: utzoo!dptcdc!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!killer!jolnet!violence From: violence@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Violence) Newsgroups: comp.os.misc Subject: Re: A call for votes! Message-ID: <501@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> Date: 17 Apr 89 01:47:59 GMT References: <480@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> <453@sequoia.UUCP> Reply-To: violence@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Violence) Distribution: usa Organization: TVH Lines: 100 In article <453@sequoia.UUCP> dewey@sequoia.UUCP (Dewey Henize) writes: >First, you haven't shown anything resembling a need for the 'conference' (it's >called a 'newsgroup' usually). A mere technicality (referring to my misnomer). >As a matter of fact, you present a wonderful case for why it SHOULD NOT be a >newsgroup with your own statement about 'a mere post or two in comp.os.misc.' Are you always this friendly? >The point of newsgroups is to separate out specific topics that have regularly >shown enough interest to justify their own namespace, not just because you >would LIKE to see more postings. This is especially true in the comp groups. I would hope that there are some other PRIMOS enthusiasts out there. Let's see if any come out of the woodwork regarding this, shall we? >You seem to be making the case that PRIMOS should have its own place to get >posts based on your perception that its an important operating system, and >not based at all on any indication of activity ON USENET regarding it. Point taken. I shall now try and generate some interest. >This is backwards, if there is expressed need shown by number of postings in a >subject, THEN is when you try to get a newsgroup - you don't try to get a >newsgroup (especially a comp newsgroup) for something no one shows any real >interest it. Why not? Sounds like a bad case of conformism to me. Point is that I have seen posts regarding PRIMOS more than once on the net. That is why I am doing this. >Second, you don't start collecting votes out of the blue. [stuff deleted] >After a minimum discussion of two weeks in news.groups, a call for votes is >appropriate, with the votes for and against being collected by someone at a >reasonably well connected site. Currently it takes a count of 100 MORE yes >votes than no votes for a group. I am relatively new on the USENET scene (perhaps 5 months of use) and had no idea how to initiate a new newsgroup. Thusly, I followed the procedure I had seen used before. Please pardon my fouling up of the protocols. >Personal Opinion: PRIMOS is of, at best, peripheral interest to the vast >majority of net.folks. I will assume that the general term 'net.folks' refers to people that use data networks. If you are referring to only USENET people then you'll have to learn to be more specific in the future. >It only runs on Prime machines, which are not exactly the most widely used >machines around, and it would seem that that trend is increasing. Can we have some proof to support your allegations? >Prime machines themselves are not compatable with much or anything else, and >often with each other (at the software level). I have been using PRIMOS since 1984 and have not encountered any serious compatibility problems. Perhaps you just had a bad childhood experience? >In the last couple years I don't recall seeing anyone discuss putting anything >like rn or notes or news on a PRIME running PRIMOS - [stuff deleted] A PRIMOS implementation of RN is currently underway. >We've had several PRIME machines where I work. Right now, one of the things >I'm really looking forward to is our scheduled deinstall of the last one. A sadist! >Trying to teach a new user anything like an underlying structure or philosophy >of the system so that they can use it effectively is a real exercise in >frustration. That's a cop out if I *ever* heard one! Just because the people where you are fail to teach PRIMOS properly is no reason to say that PRIMOS is more difficult to learn than any other common OS. I say 'fail to teach properly' because of the fact that PRIMOS is as easy to learn as any other common OS, such as UNIX or VAX/VMS. I was able to learn and understand PRIMOS rather easily in a short amount of time. >And wow, such an impressive array of supported and effective word processing >tools! There is an over-abundance of WP related products for PRIMOS. This is starting to change, albeit slowly. Prime Computer, Inc. is, as you have said prev- iously, expanding their sphere of work, and hackers like myself are constantly working to create new and useful utilities. >Why don't you try FIRST to get on the distribution list, if such a critter >exists, instead of starting first with the suggestion that several thousand >sites start carrying a group that's shown basically no need to exist? I had no idea that a PRIME mailing list existed, but now that I do I shall get on it. And I shall continue to muster support for comp.os.primos. If you think I plan on giving up then you are undeniably mistaken. Violence VOID