🚀 go-pugleaf

Binary posts do not belong in unmoderated discussion groups.

I run a program that searchs for, and issues advisory cancels for,
large binaries in the akr, biz, comp, misc, news, rec, and sci
hierachies.

I have issued 6 cancels for large binary files (average size 316,193
characters - total size 1,897,160 characters) posted to 6 different
unmoderated discussion groups in the biz, misc and rec hierarchies
as follows:
   1 rec.music.funky
   1 rec.games.computer.quake.misc
   1 rec.audio.car
   1 rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5
   1 misc.test
   1 biz.comp.software

This pointer is being posted to each affected group listed above, with
the exception of misc.test.

If you want to see exactly which file was deleted from a particular
group, or the criteria that I used to select it, read the full report
in news.admin.net-abuse.announce.  Look for AR188 as in the
subject of this pointer.  The full report can also be found in
alt.nocem.misc and alt.retromod.

There has been a long-standing consensus among news administrators that
binaries belong in binaries newsgroups, and not elsewhere.  There also
seems to be a consensus supporting the cancellation of large binaries in
discussion groups as long as appropriate protocols are followed.

In my opinion, the best way to distribute binary files is via ftp or
the web.  With the ready availablity of ftpmail servers, even uucp
sites can retrieve binaries from ftp sites.

However, if you really must post a binary to Usenet, please post it to
an appropriate binaries newsgroup such as alt.binaries.misc.  Then, if
you like, post something in the appropriate discussion group telling
people where to find the binary in the binaries group (a pointer to
the binary).  This will permit news administrators and users to decide
for themselves whether to receive the binary files.

Please direct public feedback to news.admin.net-abuse.misc and private
feedback to red@redpoll.mrfs.oh.us.  Thanks.

Best wishes,
Dick
-- 
Richard E. Depew, Munroe Falls, OH    red@redpoll.mrfs.oh.us (home)
It's over, and can't be helped, and that's one consolation, as they
  always say in Turkey, when they cut the wrong man's head off'' 
  -- Charles Dickens