From: clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Natural Language newsgroup
Date: 26 Jan 1993 13:19:54 GMT
Organization: College of Engineering, Maryversity von Uniland, College Park
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: feedback.eng.umd.edu
Originator: clin@feedback.eng.umd.edu


In article <1k1lhhINN65i@mojo.eng.umd.edu>, clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) writes:
>
>
>    Nik (N D Silver) suggests that the name of the newsgroup be changed
>to comp.ai.nlang to make it closer to the moderated group, 
>comp.ai.nlang-know-rep.   The two names suggested are:
> 
>       (1) comp.ai.nlp
>       (2) comp.ai.nlang

   We have a few more suggestions for names.  Let me get the reasons
for the ones we have so far.

        (1) comp.ai.nlp
             
            * Person who suggested it liked the name
            * My opinion -- it's short, which could be nice.

        (2) comp.ai.nlang

            * There's a group called comp.ai.nlang-know-rep (which is
               moderated) and by calling it this, it would be close to
               the actual newsgroup in alphabetical order.

        (3) comp.ai.natural-language, comp.ai.natural-language-processing

             * It would be easier for those looking for a newsgroup to
               know what this newsgroup is about.

             * My opinion -- name could be a tad long, but I'm flexible.

        (4) comp.ai.natlan, comp.ai.natlang

              * Also, a little easier to decipher than comp.ai.nlp

        (5) comp.natural-language, comp.nlp

               * So we wouldn't lose the non-AI folks.
    

>
>As a check, these are the names I have received so far.
>
>    (1)  David Whitten (whitten@fwva.saic.com)
>    (2)  Alex Quilici (alex@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu)
>    (3)  Lynn Richard Akers (gt9405@prism.gatech.edy)
>    (4)  Bruce Feist (Bruce.Feist@f615.n109.z1.fidonet.org)
>    (5)  Norbert Fuchs (fuchs@ifi.unizh.ch)
>    (6)  Anita Govindjee (anita@sparach.cogsci.uiuc.edu)
>    (7)  Mark Kantrowitz (Mark_Kantrowitz@glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu)
>    (8)  N. D. Silver (nik@scs.leeds.ac.uk)
>    (9)  Steven Jenkins (jenkins@cs.iastate.edu)
>   (10)  David House (dhouse@eos.ncsu.edu)
>   (11)  Jaime Cisneros (cisneros@eola.cs.ucf.edu)
    (12)  Gregory S. Vaughan (gsv@holonet.net)
    (13)  Dan Suthers (suthers+@pitt.edu)
    (14)  Randall Helzerman (helz@ecn.purdue.edu)
    (15)  Sait Dogru (dogru@cs.umn.edu)
    (16)  John Hughes (hughes@cis.udel.edu)
    (17)  Bruce Feist (Bruce.Feist@f615.n109.z1.fidonet.org)
    (18)  Massimo Poesio (poesio@cs.rochester.edu)
    (19)  Fraser Wilson (fraser@cs.mu.oz.au)
    (20)  Milt Epstein (epstein@cs.uiuc.edu)
    (21)  Afzal Ballim (afzal@divsun.unige.ch)
    (22)  Steve Flinter (sflinter@cs.tcd.ie)
    (23)  Tony McEmery (mcenery@uk.ac.lancs.comp)
    (24)  Ray Reighart (rxr20@cas.org)
    (25)  Alexander Vork (disnet!alex@realy.nluug.nl)
    (26)  Gabriele Sonnenberger (son@post.inf-wiss.ivp.uni-konstanz.de)
    (27)  Sam Marshall (lpzmm@unicorn.nott.ac.uk)
    (28)  Dennis Breuker (breuker@cs.rulimburg.nl)
    (29)  Bram v.d. Vos (ajvdvos@cs.vu.nl)
    (30)  Yuen Lin (liny@clu.cf.ac.uk)

    I would say that all but three of the above were in favor, and about
three were somewhat reluctant, for such reasons as (1) how much support
there would be, (2) would the newsgroup be meaningful, (3) isn't there
overlap with comp.ai.nlang-know-rep?

    Let me address (3).   Part of the reason I am interested in setting
this up is because the group comp.ai.nlang-know-rep is moderated.  By
that, I mean that there is an official moderator who screens the 
incoming messages, and posts those that are considered worthy.

     The advantages of such a method is that it almost entirely eliminates
"flames" or unnecessary criticism of other people or their views.  In
addition, those who are in the field may feel that the signal-to-noise
ratio is better in a moderated group.   That is, there aren't too many
articles that are "junk".

    The disadvantages is that the moderator controls "everything".   For 
example, this may mean that posts are put up on an infrequent basis.
In addition, there is little discussion in the groups because it is
moderated, and I believe that discussion makes a topic much more
interesting.   Also, the moderator decides what is appropriate and
what is not appropriate, and this often means that novices in the
field are discouraged from participating, and asking too many dumb
questions, which I think is disheartening.

     Now, it may turn out that if the newsgroup is set up, we will
have a low readership.   This is tough to say, at this point, and
until the group forms, we won't know.   However, should this happen,
I am hoping that we can run discussion in a "seminar" like fashion,
perhaps discussing important trends in natural language, and
explaining the merits and drawbacks.   This would provide an
information resevoir, which is rather rare in newsgroups.

Naming the Group
----------------

     Right now, it seems that our main worry is what to actually
name this group.   I'm pretty flexible, and don't care, but we
will eventually need to find a way to resolve this matter, and
it may be put up to a vote.   If someone who is familiar with setting
up a newsgroup could let me know, we could find out whether a final
charter needs to be set up by the time we have a call for discussion,
especially, whether we need to decide a newsgroup name.

Some Procedure
--------------

     It turns out that unless we form this group as an alt group
(which is less likely to get to all sites), then the formal procedure
requires that there be at least 2/3 yes votes, and that the yes votes
must outnumber the no votes by 100.   If we're very lucky, this means
that only 100 votes are required.  The other extreme is a 200 yes, 100
no split which is the minimum needed for two-thirds and exceed by
100.   Right now, we have 31 people who would be in support, which
is roughly good enough for me to get down to the procedure of formally
getting this group off the ground.   Of course, when vote time comes
around, we will need more people to vote yes.  So, any friends or
colleagues who might be interested in such a group, should be
encouraged to vote.  

Reminder
--------
    Again, if you want this newsgroup to be formed, please continue
sending e-mail to me at clin@eng.umd.edu.   If your name is not
already listed (or if I mispelled it), send me e-mail.   If anyone
is having problems getting mail to me, I suppose you could also post
the responses.   My e-mail address is: clin@eng.umd.edu.

--
Charles Lin
clin@eng.umd.edu
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