🚀 go-pugleaf

: In Newsgroup balt.config, Jim Jagielski (jim@jaguNET.com) wrote:
: 
: >)As in any well-run anarchy, there must be at least some rules and regulations
: >)about how to do things. With Usenet (also known as NetNews), this applies as
: >)well, especially when creating new newsgroups are concerned.
: 
: 	By the way, and I'm not saying whether or not you are, but how 
: exactly did you become the "authority" in this "anarchy"?


At no point did I ever see Jim state that  "he was the authority" on
the balt.* groups.   He was just trying to establish a guideline that
would help with setting a starting point.  I can't believe how much
grief Jim has taken from trying to help..


I have stated this in other messages, but will repeat it again.  USENET
IS CONTROLLED BY THE SYSADMINS WHO RUN THE SERVERS!!  This has always
been, and will always be.  The 'admins' got together a long time ago
and setup the basic guidelines for thecreation of groups.  You CANNOT
just create groups, even if you are bright enough to generate a CONTROL
MESSAGE.  One of the admin mechanisims of the news server is the 
ability to define 'who can create a group'.  This can be NOBODY, a specific
list of people, or everyone.  The general way this is set is to have a
list of who can create a group, or set it to nobody so you the admin
have to manually add any groups.


: >)Even though the balt.* hierarchy is "meant" for the Baltimore, MD area, there
: >)can be, and are, times when you want a balt.* newgroup available throughout
: >)the entire Usenet universe. Since Usenet is a distributed medium, all Usenet
: >)sites must agree to create and carry a group for it to have wide range and
: >)availability. Having a few local ISPs add the groups locally just won't cut
: >)it. At the very least, a formal Newgroup Control message must be submitted.
: 
: 	hmm...actually, that's a pretty weak argument. Perhaps it would 
: be -nice- if /some/ balt groups were widespread, and I'm sure in those 
: cases general consensus will naturally and freely arise without any 
: central authority butting in, and a control message will be sent in the 
: officially sanctioned way that will create a big-time group. 
: But what harm, exactly, is there in balt groups being created by other 
: methods, which don't necessarily immediately get turned into 
: international groups?


No, not so!  The idea is that users believe when they post to balt.* group
it will be seen on all the local Baltimore news servers.  If this is NOT
the case, then it's a site specific local group, and not really part of
the balt.* distribution.  balt.* is NOT supposed to be international in
scope, and never should be..



: >)At this point, someone decides that they think a new group is needed. They
: >)should then post a RFD (Request For Discussion) in balt.config. Make sure
: >)that the Subject line includes both "RFD" and the proposed new group; for
: >)example "RFD: balt.traffic-jams" is a good subject, "Whatcha think about this"
: >)is not.
: 
: 	See, these sound like suggestions, not rules. Good suggestions, 
: yes, general guidelines which are wise to follow, perhaps. But not rules 
: and regulations.


Again, this is dictated by the site Admins, and not the users, and most
responsable site admins will agree that an organized procedure makes life
easier.  So basically the Admins set the rules, and very much have the
authority to enforce them if desired...


: >)After a healthy discussion, it may be obvious what the outcome is. If
: >)balt.config is filled with "Yeah! Good idea"-type articles, then a Vote
: >)may not be needed. Conversely, an obvious outpouring of "No way"-type
: >)postings indicate the same. Still, it is up to the Proposer to go by his/her
: >)gut feelings... If it's obvious that it's "thumbs down" you may want to avoid
: >)a Vote and let it die. If it's obvious that it's a resounding "thumbs up"
: 
: 	This is where majority rule turns out to be the exact opposite of 
: democracy. The very idea of not allowing a newsgroup because people 
: specifically don't want it is ludicrous.


Again, see admin point above.  Majority rule dosen't count for squat unless
the Admins agree, and this is done on reasonable set of guidelines.  If you
feel this is wrong, you can always go out and buy your own T1, build your
own news server, and create your own distribution run the way you want it
to be run.  Then all you have left to do is get the other sites to carry
your groups, that is if you care about this step...


: >)As a newly approved balt.* newsgroup, now the actual creation starts. There
: >)are x people allowed to actually, physically create new balt.* newsgroups.
: >)They are:
: >)    <the list goes here>
: 
: 	Who decides this list? Again; some "anarchy", if it includes 
: authority. That is quite a contradiction.


This is agreed to by the local admins, and a group of respected people
are added to the auto-creation file.  I am personally  VERY picky about
who I will place in this "priviliged" list..



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