Subj : Re: Is the [comp.human-factors] newsgroup dead?
To   : comp.human-factors,comp.programming
From : Thad Smith
Date : Mon Sep 19 2005 10:04 pm

Alf P. Steinbach wrote:

> Postings in [comp.human-factors] are now scarce, days or sometimes a whole
> week between!
 > ...
> I used to post in chf in a period some years ago (seven?), and as I recall at
> that time there very lively debates, long threads, and just the "expected"
> percentage of content free acronym-ridden postings by career academics.

My impression is that Usenet, in general, is declining.  I suppose it is 
being replaced by various Web-based forums.  An established ISP that I 
used in the past dropped their news service, and my newer ISP never had 
any, so I pay for an extra service.  Plug: octanews provides good 
service at a very low rate.  Teranews provides variable service for a 
small one-time signup fee.

In my experience most people who use the Internet don't even know about 
the _existance_ of Usenet!

As far c.hf is concerned, you might see if you can find some hf experts 
and find what resources they use for discourse.  I'm expect there are 
various forums scattered on the net.  Frankly, I miss the more active 
Usenet, but expect it to get worse, not better.

Thad

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