From: lon@edsi.plexus.COM (Lon Ponschock)
Subject: REMARKS... misc.support.stop-smoking fails 90:37
Organization: Enterprise Data Systems Incorporated, Appleton WI
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 15:27:09 GMT




Remarks Re:misc.support.stop-smoking fails XXX to XX

====================================================

     The Vote on misc.support.stop-smoking was defeated
     for the following reasons:


  1.) The numbers of the vote count (fewer than 100
      yes votes.

  2.) The number of belligerent no votes which were cast
      for the sake of casting no votes. I can document
      this in at least one instance.

      I have read that belligerent no votes are not
      uncommon in a Usenet Newsgroup vote and others
      have whined about this in the past, but it is
      worth noting.

      Objections to the group included its placement in
      the misc.* hierarchy rather than in one of the
      alt.* groups.  The point was made during the vote
      that the misc.* hierarchy was selected to allow
      the most participants (including myself) to join
      the discussion.

      Perhaps the form of the voting address as:

            smokeyes@edsi.plexus.com

            to support the resolution was confusing to
            some as somehow being in favor of smoking.

     A constraint in naming the address at this site
required that an eight character address name be chosen.

========================================================

     If there is interest in continuing the support
group, a listserv or newsletter can be formed for that
purpose.  It can act as a discussion forum and means of
publicizing the next time that misc.support.stop-smoking
is put up for discussion.  I would appreciate hearing
from anyone who has cast a vote in favor of the group
who has the ability to set up a listserv or Distribution
List to contact me.  I will be in touch with my sysadmin
at this site as well.

     A message will be sent to those who supported the
proposal which includes the possibility of forming a
social mailing list.

     The next RFD will take place in six months.  I feel
that it is an idea worth pursuing as long as the option
exists.

     Compiling this vote and becoming active in the
Usenet process has been a worthwhile learning experience
for me.  If I had known that the vote would not succeed,
I would have pursued it anyway.  My thanks to those who
have encouraged and supported this vote.  I still
believe that this kind of support group has a place on
the Net.  Many information workers do their tasks in
isolation.  Also, a discussion of devices such as
nicotine patches would provide an information source to
those who see them as an option in the effort to quit
smoking.

     It is perhaps ironic that the vote for
misc.support.stop-smoking has occurred within a very
short time of a year to the day when I quit.:-)

     I would like to share the thoughts of others who
are still struggling with being 'dry' or smoke-free.

     Send e-mail if you have interest and or expertise
in creating a social mailing list to :

              <lon@edsi.plexus.com>

Bye for now.:-)


-- 
   Question Recently
   Posed to the Net:'Kukla, Fran & Ollie' which one is which?
   Answer: Tom Servo is Kukla, Crooow is Ollie and Joel is Fran.
   lon@edsi.plexus.com
Newsgroups: news.groups