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 gmd.de!nntp.gmd.de!urmel.informatik.rwth-aachen.de!Aachen.Germany.EU.net!rmi.de!Germany.EU.net!EU.net!uknet!brunel!me90drj
From: me90drj@brunel.ac.uk (DR J)
Subject: DIS: rec vs alt (Please Read)
Message-ID: <Cpt3t5.1G1@brunel.ac.uk>
Organization: Brunel Looniversity
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Date: Sat, 14 May 1994 19:07:52 GMT
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I know this isn't art, but I wanted to start a proper discussion about the
creation of rec.arts.ascii (r.a.a) and the differences between it and 
alt.ascii-art (a.a-a).

Scarecrow, I hope I'm not stealing your thunder by making these suggestions,
I just wanted to see everyone's views on the subject and offer my opinions.


We've seen a fairly strong campaign against r.a.a mounted by Colin
Douthwaite and I'd like to counter a few of the things he's been discussing.


The most obvious difference between r.a.a and a.a-a is in propagation.
It's easy to think that just because you can read a.a-a, everyone else
can. This is not true, many newsreaders only receive the official groups
(rec, comp, sci etc.). A.a-a is currently read by only 44% of the available
groups, partly because its 'alt' tag gets it lumped together with all the
alt.sex, alt.binaries.pictures.erotica and alt.this.is.just.another.stupid.
group.started.by.people.with.nothing.better.to.do.with.their.lives groups.

Creating r.a.a will greatly increase both the number of viewers and
contributors. It might also add a little 'respectability' to the art of
drawing pictures using the standard Ascii alphabet. Communicating across
the InterNet using Ascii is going to continue for a good few years yet, so
we might as well get as many artists as possible involved.


The other change from a.a-a to r.a.a will be the introduction of Scarecrow
as a moderator. As moderator he will be able to cut out any letters that
he wants to and prevent us from seeing them.

The standard paranoid reaction is 'Oh no, why bother posting to a moderated
group, my letter will just get removed'. Really? Naaaaaa. Scarecrow has
consistently shown his interest in ascii art, both by his number of posts
(I hope your employer isn't reading this!) and by the way he helps out with
the requests that we regularly see.

This is how I see the moderator dealing with the different types of posts
that we get in a.a-a (Apologies for writing your contract Scarecrow!):


1) New Ascii art pictures
   - Posted as normal.

2) Reposts of existing pictures we've all seen before (Meriday, etc.)
   - Probably cut most of the time, although it might be nice to let them 
     be reposted every month or so for the new viewers.

3) Requests for reposts of existing pictures
   - Cut and replied to by the moderator.

4) Requests for specific pictures that exist (Star Trek, happy birthday,
   hearts and roses, etc.)
   - Cut and replied to by the moderator, although again, some could be let
     through to see if anyone wants to draw a new picture.

5) Requests for new pictures that don't exist
   - Posted as normal

6) Discussions, comments, praise, etc. (With or without Ascii pictures in
   them, I'd hate readers to think that they had to include an 'ObAscii')
   - Posted as normal

7) Off-topic letters (cross-posts, Make Money Fast, etc.)
   - Cut


I don't know whether this is what Scarecrow has in mind, but I imagine its
along the same lines.

The important point to remember is that voting YES for r.a.a will allow
many more people to see and contribute to the growing collections of ascii
artwork. At the same time, we won't have to wade through the large numbers
of requests and reposts that we get right now.


If you really believe that the moderation of r.a.a would stop you
subscribing to it, vote YES anyway so that everyone who wants the moderated
group can have it, and then carry on reading a.a-a, it won't be deleted when
r.a.a gets created.

This is known as a 'win-win' situation and you know it makes sense!


Comments anyone?


                                                          DR J
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