From: twpierce@unix.amherst.edu (Tim Pierce)
Subject: name for "alt.amateur-comp"
Organization: Amherst College, Amherst MA
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 13:09:57 GMT

Ronda Hauben and I have been having an e-mail discussion about the
possibility of there being a more appropriate name for
"alt.amateur-comp".  She suggested that I post her most recent
response to alt.config for discussion, so I am.  The quoted text is
hers, the double-quoted text is mine:

> > What I was wondering is if there was an existing or new alt hierarchy
> > that would make the meaning of "amateur-comp" clearer in context.  For
>
> No Tim, the problem was that there WASN'T the appropriate alt hierarchy
> and it seemed premature to start one.  The Amateur Computerist is
> about Amateurs - of all kinds - those who love computers especially,
> but also, amateur as opposed to professional or commercial.
>
> So it seemed that if it were to fit into a hierarchy - it was
> an alt.amateur hierarchy and I originally proposed that but had
> pointed out to me that there was no such hierarchy and it wasn't
> advisable to start one at this point.
>
> So the choice was left whether to dilute the essence of the Amateur
> Computerist or to be willing to put the essence out - which is
> what it seemed to me the alt hierarchy was about.
>
> Actually the Amateur Computerist is more than a newsletter. It is
> the result of a hard struggle at Ford against commercialism and
> it has tried to build on the spirit of the original computer hackers
> who called themselves the Amateur Computerist Society who built the 
> first personal computers.
>
> So it really doesn't fit with zines - its not a zine - and it doesn't 
> fit with alt.society  because its not an alt.society - somehow its
> the spirit of the grassroots which is in fact what gets most of the
> wondrous things done in our society.
>
> So we decided to be willing to have alt.amateur-comp as our name as
> that was the best reflection of the spirit of what we are.
>
> And if you peak into the newsgroup one poster figured out that 
> alt.amateur-comp is about people who love computers. 
>
>
> > example, since the Amateur Computerist is a newsletter, and there is
> > an "alt.zines" newsgroup, a better name might be
> > "alt.zines.amateur-comp."
> > 
> But we are really not a "zine".
>
> > On the other hand, that might detract from the real message you're
> > trying to get out.  I notice that the Activist Times and Computer
> > Underground both have newsgroups, under "alt.society.ati" and
> > "alt.society.cu-digest."  I imagine "alt.society.amateur-comp" might
> > at least suggest that the subject of the newsgroup doesn't have to do
> > with, say, movies or TV shows.
> > 
> I'm not afraid of anyone mistaking us for a movie or tv show. 
> Amateurs are very special people and amateur computerists especially
> special. After all they brought us the personal computer and also
> other wondrous achievements.
>
> BTW it would be fine to have this discussion as part of the newsgroup.
> It's fine if you want to post this respnse - then maybe the discussion
> will broaden.
>
> BTW what is your objection to our name? Alt.beer or alt.alt don't seem
> any more specific that alt.amateur-comp.
-- 
____ Tim Pierce                / "I don't know how much support NAMBLA
\  / twpierce@unix.amherst.edu /  has in the gay community."
 \/ (BITnet: TWPIERCE@AMHERST) /   -- Clayton Cramer, August 1992