From: bjoerns@stud.cs.uit.no (Bjoern Stabell)
Subject: Re: splitting the group
Organization: University of Tromsoe, Norway
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 15:59:00 GMT

In article <gate.cR8uPB1w165w@toz.buffalo.ny.us>, cyberman@toz.buffalo.ny.us (Cyberman) writes:
] 
]      -=> King_claudius (chris Kni spoke of "Re: splitting the group" <=-
]     To All at 08-20-92  21:27
]  K(K> ***********************************************************************
]  K(K> **** PLAIN AND SIMPLE:
] 
] Really?  I see we need a moderator.  Because some poeple just
] can't control themselves from being dictators of what other
] poeple should do.

This is not dictating, this is merely reciting the original intent of the
group.  There are rules for what to put in a group, and if they are
violated, people will react.  The question is rather (as I see it) "what is
appropriate to this newsgroup?"

] The real issue here is not "appropriate postings" it is one of
] dogmatic elimination and bigotry.  All I have seen is posturing
] and name calling.  Look let's all think for a change.  BOTH
] groups [factions] have valid arguements.

The issue is about appropriate postings, but perhaps someone (me included)
has been a bit harsh in their language.

] Now THINKING what should be in this group?  Pure game thinking?
] I tried that once and got flamed by the same poeple who are
] flaming poeple posting PC specifc stuff.  I think you need to

What did you post that provoked such a response, what were the arguments
against your posting?

] stop thinking of this group as your PERSONAL ELITE group.  It's
] not, it's for EVERYONE.  I for one would like to see less
] complaining and more PREVALENT posting.  If your complaining
] about the number of posts try looking at Comp.programing.C++!  OR
] SCI.electronics!  These are crowded yet I read them everyday. and
] sometimes every other day.

But they are consistent with their original intent (at least comp.lang.c++,
I don't read sci.electronics), this group isn't.  Also, I'm sure nobody has
hinted that this is a group for 'a personal elite' (if it was so, I
wouldn't be here for sure :)

] Moderating a news group as someone stated earlier is VERY
] difficult.  Now a specific group of poeple want to split others
] don't.  Why shouldn't the group split?  When I originally was on
] this news group 12 months ago thier was 1 - 2 posts a day.
] Sometimes not for DAYS.

So you DO agree that it would be beneficial for this group to split?  I
don't see what all this fuzz is about then?!?!  But of course, if you have
appropriate newsgroups then you wouldn't yet another one. :)

] Perhaps a "set of rules" should be posted?

Good idea, that's exactly what this group lacks.  Though I think there are
some guidelines concerning posting to inappropriate newsgroups, we merely
have to define what is appropriate here.  That should've been ironed out in
the charter agreed upon in the discussion part of the newsgroup creation
(at least according to How to Create a Newsgroup posted regularly to
news.groups), anybody have that charter?  (I, for one, will try to obtain it)

] When asking platform specific questions ...
] 
] Simple self control is very important.
] I do think many of the posts are not 100% apropriate.
] However posting to your suggested news groups is just as bad.

What do you mean?  Are you flamed if you post "VGA programming" questions
to comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer?

] This is why a FAQ needs to be put in.  So any questions instead
] of being FLAMED or having a LONG discussion on it should can be
] FAQed and moved to Email.

If something doesn't belong in the group, it shouldn't belong in the FAQ
either.  This has been a very long discussion, agreed, so if we could just
get this charter up in the daylight.

Btw, Gene Spafford's List of Active Newsgroups lists the content of this
group as "Discussion of adventure game programming".  Perhaps when we all
agree on what to put in this group, we could let him know too. :)


Sincerely,
-- 
                                                  Bjoern Stabell
                                                  University of Tromsoe
                                                  (+47) 83 44 053 / 83 75 164
                                                  bjoerns@staff.cs.uit.no