From: markm@ogicse.ogi.edu (Mark Morrissey)
Newsgroups: pnw.general
Subject: Re: Proposal for pnw.motss
Keywords: new newsgroup motss for pnw
Date: 2 Oct 92 01:20:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.43527
Distribution: pnw
Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute (formerly OGC), Beaverton, OR

In article <1992Oct1.180629.21208@fnx.uucp> del@fnx.uucp (Dag Erik Lindberg) writes:
>
>Why is this group needed?  

pnw.motss is intended to be a regional subset of soc.motss.  The charter
for soc.motss is that it is a safe space for lesbians and gay men
in which a supportive environment is fostered.  Questions regarding the
correctness of homosexuality, etc. are not allowed (this does not stop
lots of people from coming in and expressing views contrary to the
charter, however).  The purpose of pnw.motss is to create a place where
regional issues can be discussed without the noise of leafing through
soc.motss, which has a traffic volume frequently in the hundreds of
messages per day.  There is actually significant potential traffic as
reflected in the local mailing lists which are running recently up to
twenty messages per day per list.

>                           Is there some reason why the minimal traffic
>couldn't be supported in pnw.general?   It's not like pnw.general is
>flooded with new messages every day.  

I really don't think that issues related to creating a supportive
environment for lesbians and gay men is a subject applicable to 
pnw.general.  Why don't we just let that group exist for its purpose.

>                                      I would prefer to see any relevant
>issues discussed in pnw.general until such time as there is either
>a) sufficient traffic to justify a new group b) some other overriding
>reason why the traffic is not appropriate for the pnw.general group.

I do believe that we have met your (b).  The thing to note is that
pnw.motss is intended to be 'motss-friendly space'.  That is, we don't
want people coming in saying "oooohhhh!  How icky!  You people are
really sick!".  We can get that anywhere.  By placing the traffic
(which I personally believe will be more than five messages - more like
twenty or so) in a different group, those people who do not wish to see
this traffic can safely bypass it by not subscribing to the group.

As for significant support, I think that we can safely say that the
majority of people in the pacific northwest who subscribe to and read
or post to soc.motss are in favor of the addition to the regional
hierarchy.  Since votes aren't called for, we won't be taking one.
Suffice to say that it is important as a regional communications tool
and for traffic not applicable to soc.motss.  If the traffic on soc.motss
was such that messages restricted via the distribution mechanism would
not be lost in the shuffle, there would be no need for this group.
However, experience has shown this not to be the case.  Hence, the trend
towards  additions to the regional hierarchy.


I hope this helps.

--mark
--
Mark Morrissey           One Hatred to rule them all.  One Hatred to find them.
markm@cse.ogi.edu        One Hatred to bring them all and in the darkness bind
                         them.  In the land of Bigotry where the Shadows lie.