On 7 Nov 2003 04:04:19 -0600, noah wrote:
On 07 Nov 2003 08:15:42 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:
If anyone would like to see rec.boats returned to "boating", then say
so. Those of us who might be willing to go through the crap of Usenet
procedure will need your support to make it worthwhile.
Rules, schmules....Any restriction will ultimately require a moderator.
"Somebody" has to judge whether the thread, "Our Heroic Leader, GWB, sent me a
Republican tax refund so I could afford to put tires on my boat trailer" is on
topic, or not. "Somebody" has to be able to pull the plug
on the handful of half-wits who post nothing but insults and/or profanity.
(assuming that insults and profanity aren't finally accepted as somehow
on-topic).
Chuck, ..Mr. Gould, as a former '60's hippie, I can identify with
"rules, schmules". No moderators.
As a sentient, compassionate, and aware being, I say that "insults and
profanity" have been here for a long time.
The great thing about an unrestricted format is that the group reflects
*exactly* what the participants want it to be. It is precisely the sum total of
dozens of individual parts. It's always amazing to hear from some guy who
appears for the first time to say, "Well, I hung out here for a couple of
months but I didn't find anything really worthwhile and nobody addressed the
issues I'm interested in, so I'm outta here."
I don't object to an unrestricted format. I would welcome it, as long
as it didn't have the title "rec.boats". How about
rec.boats.unrestricted?
Don't see what you like here? Introduce it.
Post a question or a comment about your pet subject. Beats heck out of going
away disappointed.
LOL! Done that before....
You are a very logical man. I have seen it in the newsgroup, but you
cannot logically defend the OT posting to a group named "rec.boats".
It's not the OT posting that's the problem. I think much of that content
actually builds community. And a certain amount of off topic posting may serve
to leaven the dough, so to speak, and make the newsgroup a more casual,
friendlier place.
You're good, but you're not *that* good.
There are any number of moderated and censored boards for boating. Boater Ed,
Hull Truth, etc etc etc. Those who insist on a tight structure and censored
posts can and should go there. The redeming aspect of an open forum is that
although you wind up shoveling through a lot of horse crap, more often than not
there is a pony 'round here someplace.
No one is talking about moderated or censored newsgroups.
Noah, for many people, "moderation" is exactly equal to "censorship."
In any case, it's not likely you'd ever see a moderated version of rec.boats. I
just don't see it getting through a CFV.
I would be
thrilled with a negotiated and adopted FAQ.
Now a FAQ is a great idea. It's one of the ways you can build consensus.
Joe Parsons