From: markw@gvlf8.gvl.unisys.com (Mark H. Weber)
Newsgroups: alt.config,news.groups
Subject: How to create a new "alt" group
Date: 25 Sep 91 21:10:29 GMT
Reply-To: markw@gvlf8.gvl.unisys.com (Mark H. Weber)
Followup-To: alt.config
Organization: Unisys Defense Systems, Great Valley Labs, Paoli, Pa

There are no rules or guidelines for creation of "alt" groups, but there
does appear to be an established procedure which goes something like this:

    1) Propose a new alt group in alt.config. The proposal should
       include a charter or purpose for the new group, and some
       demonstration of the need for the group. Be prepared to explain
       why an existing group cannot be used for this purpose, and
       why the group should be in "alt" rather than in one of the 
       mainstream hierarchies (like "rec", "sci", etc.). Avoiding the
       complexity of the mainstream group creation procedure is not a
       very good reason, groups should not be created in "alt" just 
       because it's easier. Don't forget that mainstream groups can
       also be created by the "trial" mechanism. Many sites do not
       get any alt groups, so if you are proposing a serious group, it is
       worth the effort to try to get it into a mainstream hierarchy.
 
    2) See what the alt.net.opinion of the new group is. Wait a few
       days for replies to trickle in from the far corners of the
       net. If the consensus (however you determine that) is that 
       the group should be created, then proceed to step 3.
 
       (these first two steps are often ignored, which usually
	leads to unpleasantness in step 4 below)

    3) Post a "newgroup" control message. If you don't know how to
       do this, check with your news administrator. If you ARE your
       news administrator, and you can't figure it out from the
       documentation you have (or don't have any documentation) send
       me mail and I will help you. NOTE that many sites do NOT
       automatically honor "newgroup" and "rmgroup" control messages,
       the news software at these sites will send mail to the news
       administrator, who will evaluate your request and decide
       whether or not to create the group. It may take a couple of
       days for the control message to propagate and be acted upon, so
       don't expect instant availability of the new group, particularly
       if you post the control message on a Friday night.

    4) Let the individual site news administrators decide whether to
       honor your "newgroup" message. Most admins prefer that the message 
       come from a verifiable account, messages which are obviously forged,
       or have not been discussed in alt.config and contain no explanation
       will probably not be honored by many sites.  Persons opposed to the 
       group, or admins who feel that the newgroup message was a forgery 
       may send out "rmgroup" messages to try to sabotage the group.
       It may take several iterations of this process to firmly 
       establish the new group. It has been humorously suggested that
       only alt groups which get 100 more "newgroup" than "rmgroup"
       messages should be established. However, these "rmgroup wars" 
       are annoying to news administrators, and reduce the overall 
       acceptance (and distribution) of the "alt" hierarchy. This is
       the reason that steps 1 and 2 above are important.


This may sound like a lot of rigamarole, and it is. The purpose is to
discourage creation of alt groups that might be better off as mainstream
groups, or that might be better of left uncreated. Don't take this all 
too seriously, though. The "alt" net is the last remaining refuge away
from the control freaks, namespace purists and net.cops (like myself) that
maintain and enforce the mainstream newsgroup guidelines. There is still
some room for spontaneity out here on the "alt" frontier.  Successful
groups have been created without following these suggestions. Almost 
any non-forged, serious newgroup message will at least be considered by 
most news admins.  Some groups have been created just on a whim. The 
concept behind the group better be good (or a least entertaining), though!


-- 
  Mark H. Weber                   | Internet: markw@GVL.Unisys.COM  
  Unisys - Great Valley Labs      |     UUCP: ...!uunet!cbmvax!gvlv2!markw
  Paoli, PA  USA  (215) 648-2112  |           ...!psuvax1!burdvax!gvlv2!markw


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