From: root@dogear.spk.wa.us (Bob Kirkpatrick)
Newsgroups: alt.child-support,alt.dads-rights
Subject: Re: Truly Amazing Discovery!
Date: 26 Aug 92 07:20:00 GMT
Organization: Dog Ear'd Systems of Spokane, WA

In article <1992Aug26.010718.29280@wolves.uucp> woody@wolves.uucp (Woody Muller) writes:
>
>Fortunately, we have the mailing list, which gives a better s/n ratio,
>thanks to a couple of peoples' efforts.  But it still isn't enough.  At
>the risk of provoking the ranters, I'd like to revive the idea of creating
>a moderated newsgroup.  Perhaps alt.family-law, but even better,
>misc.legal.family.  It's a lot of work to moderate a group, and I know
>I don't have the time.  I know Bob Kirkpatrick volunteered a few weeks
>ago, and I for one would be comfortable with him in that position.
>
>As I recall, the ranters shouted it down or something, or Bob issued a
>challenge to all to answer a mongo interrogatory about their state laws,
>or Mr. Brunner expressed some slight reservation.  Whatever the reason
>the idea faded, it's too bad.  misc.legal.family (moderated) is a good
>idea for us pragmatists.  The ranters will of course object that this
>will reduce their ability to rant.  But that's Usenet!

Not necessarily. :-)

Bob was not shouted down. Allow me to update the many on the situation.

The issues of paternity have certainly attracted a wide variety of folks,
and is, indeed, a topic of ongoing turmoil. I don't think it's yet to
burn itself out. I've been speaking with a number of people in email, and
we have a volunteer to moderate a group which deals in paternity issues.
Will Steeves has asked if he can perform the task, and I haven't any
objections to it at all. I placed a post in alt.config two weeks ago that
spoke of Mr. Steeves willingness, and it got a single negative response,
and that was an admin who queried the need for such a group when these
groups (adr/acs) already existed.

So, if Will still wants to do it, I'm more than willing to post a new-
group for alt.paternity, naming him as moderator. Perhaps some of you may
wish to discuss this further. If so, then try to do it in alt.config, or
through email to Will if you don't get the group. Mr. Steeves is unable
to issue a control message from his site, and I volunteered to do so if
he got sufficient support.

More to the point, I have been composing an RFD for publication in
news.groups. The RFD covers the creation of a moderated group in the
misc.legal hierarchy. I was thinking in terms of misc.legal.family-law,
but this post has caused me to rethink it to simply misc.legal.family.
The RFD should be issued at the next publication to come from David
lawrence (tale@uunet.uu.net). A copy of the proposal will be posted
here in the alt hierarchy in the next day or so --referring comments
and/or responses to news.groups.

I elected to continue with the idea of a group for topical discussion
of family-law issues for the following reasons:

1) the alt groups have a tendency to shout down queries of a pragmatic
   nature, converting them to shouting matches which neither inform or
   sway.

2) only two people posted objections to the formation of such a group,
   one of them was Eric Brunner who has some sort of personal agenda
   that dislikes my presence, and Alan Yasutovitch who wondered if a
   need really existed because of the availability of these groups we
   have now in the alt hierarchy.

3) I posted the challenge mentioned in this post and got zero responses
   to the (common) questions it contained --which indicated to me that
   there really is no forum to discuss the elements of existing family
   law.

4) communications with other individuals who used to participate, but
   rarely do anymore, indicated that the need for a forum which gave
   equal footing for all involved in divorce/support/paternity/etc.

So, with these reasons, and a belief in the idea that a place should
be available to all who REALLY want information (and not a soapbox),
I will be issueing the RFD within the next two days --it may take a
bit more time to pass through the uunet mill before posting, though.

-- 
root@dogear.spk.wa.us (Bob Kirkpatrick)
Dog Ear'd Systems of Spokane, WA
Newsgroups: alt.child-support,alt.dads-rights,soc.men,soc.women