Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site nsc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!menlo70!nsc!chuqui From: chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach) Newsgroups: net.news.group Subject: Re: Proposal for net.religion.jewish Message-ID: <617@nsc.UUCP> Date: Wed, 8-Feb-84 18:23:42 EST Article-I.D.: nsc.617 Posted: Wed Feb 8 18:23:42 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 11-Feb-84 05:31:16 EST References: <444@pyuxn.UUCP> Organization: National Semiconductor, Sunnyvale Lines: 70 As a firm believer in getting rid of unused sub-groups, let me please take the stand for a moment in support of creating them (ack! what's happening now? -ED) There are a number of reasons to create sub-groups. First, if there is a discussion that is simply overflowing the group and it seems to be a permanent one, then we should consider moving it elsewhere (Examples: net.lang.c and net.tv.drwho). Second, there are certain groups where a group of users who would like to discuss a topic are unable to because they are simply overwhelmed by the number of messages of absolutely no interest to them in the topic that they should be using. The result of this is that the topic never gets discussed because the discussers have unsubscribed, preferring silence to the total mayhem that would otherwise be forced upon them. A small subgroup of this is the users who get thrown off of a topic every time they open their mouths on a subject the vociferous users don't particularly like. I think that net.music.classical qualifies under the second reason. There seem to be a LARGE number of classical listeners out there, but you never find them on net.music. They're all on net.audio talking about equiptment and getting in sly remarks about classical music on the side. Why? because they got overwhelmed in net.music by Michael Jackson, acid rock, and the Plasmatics. Because they couldn't (weren't willing to? -ED) compete for topic space, they simply shut up and went elsewhere. If you look at net.music, there is also very little discussion of jazz, soul, disco, soundtrack, or any other kind of music, because the people who would be interested in this aren't willing to wade through the morass to locate things they're interested in. This tells me that the topic has gotten too large to use easily and should be split up. net.music.classical would give the people who want to discuss this a place to do without significant interruption. I think net.music.rock is a good idea, because it then leaves net.music as a place for discussions of other forms of music that would otherwise be overwhelmed. I think net.religion.jewish also qualifies under 2). I'm proud to say that I don't read net.religion, but the few times I have looked in it seemed to me that the hyper-christians spent most of the time browbeating anyone who wasn't quite as radical about Jesus as they were. My experience on other networks (may they rest in peace) and religious discussions showed me that any attempt to discuss non-christian topics quickly denigrated into a 'your God isn't my God and therefore isn't a real God' fight. The few times a discussion on Judaism or Budhism got started, it invariably turned into a Jihad by the Christians. Since I am sure that the Jews on the net have better things to do than defend their religion from overzealous believers, I think giving them a place where they can talk in relative quite is a good thing to do. I think that keeping control on topic creation is a good thing, but simply saying 'Thou shalt not create topics' is not the way of doing it. The way to get the network under control is to get the obsolete topics off of it. (Has anyone noticed that net.tv.da hasn't gone away yet??? *nudge*) I could give you a list of suggestions, but being recently released from the local burn ward, I'm not that crazy... (I am... 'Nuke Wobegon! Nuke Wobegon!' -ED) chuq -- From the house at Pooh Corner: Chuq 'Nuke Wobegon' Von Rospach {fortune,menlo70}!nsc!chuqui Have you hugged your Pooh today? Go, Lemmings, Go! A good magician should always subscribe to the highest purposes, and nothing should disuade him from these lofty goals, except, perhaps, that he has to eat, and it is nice to put a little away for retirement. - The Teachings of Ebenezum, V. III