Xref: utzoo news.groups:16022 comp.sys.amiga:46594 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!sco!gorn!filbo From: filbo@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us (Bela Lubkin) Newsgroups: news.groups,comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: comp.sys.amiga.questions Message-ID: <126.filbo@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us> Date: 31 Dec 89 17:15:30 GMT References: <123.filbo@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us> <25508@cup.portal.com> Lines: 113 X-Claimer: I >am< R Pentomino! In article <25508@cup.portal.com> Thad Floryan writes: >Re: all the hoopla re: splitting comp.sys.amiga, it seems at least one basic >fact of human nature is being totally ignored: people are lazy. As any but >the most casual perusal of most newsgroups will show, responses quickly branch >off into other topics regardless of the "Subject:" line. This is true; this is true of all groups. That's why we have 50-message arguments named "Xerox Sues Apple!!!" (and >about< lots of subjects). Nevertheless, providing a group name does >tend< to guide the discussion in that group. >A *.hardware group will quickly receive software-(un)related issues, and >vice versa. Yes. The separation cannot be 100%. It >can< be 90% or better, if responders redirect (which they do often enough to help the problem), etc. Think of it as enriching an ore (or, in this case, several ores) by applying a process that separates the ore out from the other stuff -- even if it is only partially successful. >Additionally, I can see less technical content to be posted in the future due >to increasing plagiarism FOR MONEY of material posted to the Usenet. This is >why I have stopped posting technical material to comp.sys.amiga; I'm getting >weary and more than pissed off at stuff appearing in rags such as "Amazing >Computing" and the "Transactor for the Amiga" without due credit being given. This hasn't (to my knowledge) happened to me; I could see getting upset if it did. Did you attempt to contact the offending magazines, that they shouldn't do it again? >Re: > Here is where you're the most wrong. Many people use rn, nn, etc., > "modern" newsreaders. Some receive news as digests, some use old > software, etc., and CANNOT easily ignore particular classes of articles. > They must consciously dismiss every article they don't want to read. > You might as well say "Let them eat cake!". > >Tough. A "modern" newsreader program doesn't have those problems. And if >it's too difficult to flip through a digest at 19,200 (or higher) baud using >the space bar (or other key), then you have other problems which are NOT >relevant to the net in general. I use rn at 9600 and 2400bps, no problem. I do try to have empathy for those who might not have access to good tools; it doesn't hurt me to do so. >Re: > I've asked 3 or 4 times now: where is Eric Haberfellner; > what is the latest version of HandShake, and have never received a > reply. This wouldn't happen in a smaller group. > >If you're using his (Eric's) program, then select the "About ..." in the >"Project" menu and you'll see his phone number, his mailing address, and his >network connectivity; he's on BIX (NOT on Usenet), he DOES answer his phone >(as I've spoken with him several times over the years), and he DOES receive >postal service mail delivered to his doorstep. I've selected the "About" item. I've sent several messages to the email address given, and received no response (nor a bounce). The initial message was approximately "Please verify your postal address so that I can send a check for your fine program" -- a message I would certainly expect a reply to. The version of HandShake I have is old enough that I am not confident of any of the address information; I'd rather not send a check off into the ether. You say the address is good, so I'll send one off and hope for the best. As to the phone number -- I considered that an "emergency last resort"; perhaps the inconvenience of one person being called at home weighs less than the inconvenience and cost to the entire net. Of course it does; I just hadn't thought it through, so thank you for pointing this out. >From all the whining I'm hearing, it appears to ME that you have some >personal problems that you're trying to get the "net" to fix for YOU. If >you're reading news at 110 baud on a TTY ASR 33, then I can understand your >frustrations! :-) Excuse me, Thad. I'm not whining. If you're reading in whining, perhaps you have some personal problems yourself. -- I don't think that's true, or at least have no particular evidence one way or the other; just turning it around so you can see how silly and baseless it is. I'm trying to accomplish what *I* see as a service to the Usenet Amiga community -- splitting off comp.sys.amiga.hardware. It is your right to disagree, to argue against it, to vote against it, etc. Go for it. There is no need to bring in personal invective. Ob. -> :-) <- >The ONLY split of comp.sys.amiga I can see that would be reasonable at this >time would be the addition of a "comp.unix.amix" in regards to CBM's soon to >be released SVR4 port for the '020 and '030 Amigas. I'd certainly like to see that (the group, AND the product... ;-) I'm not sure what the point would be until it ships -- those who have it are surely under nondisclosure, and discussion between those who don't have it are unlikely to be enlightening; in fact, are likely to generate more confusion than anything else. I wonder if a newsgroup could be voted into existence to be created at a later time (e.g. when Amix ships to the public). That would allow the ~6-week discussion+voting period to be "pipelined" so that when there's something to discuss, the group can be created immediately. Any thoughts from the Cabal? (Yes, alt would probably work -- for those that receive it). BTW, I intended to post the call-for-votes on c.s.a.hardware tomorrow, 1/1/90. Is there any reason not to do so? Some people object to the idea, but that's true of any proposal; the vote then reveals the will of the majority. If there is no compelling reason to postpone the vote, I will post it tomorrow. Please, no votes yet. They wouldn't be valid, and I'll be directing votes to a different account anyway. Bela Lubkin * * // filbo@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us CI$: 73047,1112 (slow) @ * * // belal@sco.com ..ucbvax!ucscc!{gorn!filbo,sco!belal} R Pentomino * \X/ Filbo @ Pyrzqxgl +408-476-4633 and XBBS +408-476-4945