From: noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring)
Subject: Re: moderating sci.physics - physics is everything - really moderating sci.physics.moderated
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 19:49:57 GMT

In article crb7q@kelvin.seas.Virginia.EDU (Cameron Randale Bass) writes:
>In article lachlan@dmp.csiro.au (Lachlan Cranswick) writes:
>>>sidles@stein.u.washington.edu (John Sidles) writes:

>>>: Not that sci.physics is perfect... it just isn't clear that
>>>: moderation will improve it.  The main problem seems to be a
>>>: paucity of well thought out, interesting & informative postings,
>>>: not an excess of eccentric ones.

>>Is there going to be moderation? - I hope not.
>>
>>Moderation implies that 1 or 5 or 20 people will define
>>what physics "is" in this group.
>
>     Please.  The proposal on the table is *not* to moderate sci.physics,
>     but to create a new group sci.physics.{moderated,research,whatever}.
>     It will not affect the mild anarchy here.


I have mixed feelings on the proposal to create a moderated sci.physics.*
newsgroup.  As with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages.
Part of the equation is the long-term goals of the sci.physics.* hierarchy,
that is, what do we want the group(s) to do and be five years from now?

Enough musing.  

Let me propose one possible solution.  Let's phase out sci.physics and
create a sci.physics.* hierarchy with the following new groups:

sci.physics.general  (an unmoderated group to do what sci.physics is now -
                      a free-for-all).
sci.physics.research (a moderated group for the serious physicists and
                      wanna-be physicists to discuss physics in the
                      way the current proponents want.)
sci.physics.research.d (an unmoderated group for those who want to comment
                        on the posts in *.research but are not allowed to
                        or don't want to.)
sci.physics.speculation (a MODERATED group to allow posters to submit
                          their speculations about new ways to look at
                         physics.  The Bearden/Puthoff stuff that I
                         periodically post would fall here.  Sarfatti's
                         material could go here, and if accepted, could
                         also go into the *.research group.  The moderation
                         of this group would eliminate the excessive flamage.
                         Also, this group could be a place where the moderators
                         to the *.research could forward posts that fall into
                         the speculation category without creating too much
                         ill-will - that is, it will give them an easy out.
sci.physics.speculation.d  (an unmoderated newsgroup to discuss the posts
                            made to *.speculation.  Here's where the flamage
                            could be done.)

If the *.speculation groups were created, I'd also move for eliminating
alt.sci.physics.new-theories since it would be superfluous.  And, of course,
I would be more than happy to be a moderator for sci.physics.speculation.
I see that group as being the on-line equivalent of the journal: "Speculations
in Science and Technology"  (or something like that).

Just my $0.03 worth (inflation, you know).

Jon Noring



-- 

Charter Member of the INFJ Club.

Now, if you're just dying to know what INFJ stands for, be brave, e-mail me,
and I'll send you some information.  It WILL be worth the inquiry, I think.

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