Subj : Re: Is the [comp.human-factors] newsgroup dead?
To   : comp.human-factors,comp.programming
From : gswork
Date : Tue Sep 20 2005 01:34 am


Thad Smith wrote:
> 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!

Indeed, and such is the quality of the 'off the shelf' php boards you
can just attach to your website that i would guess more exchanges occur
on the www than on usenet, probably by some quite large factor.

I suspect it's been that way since the late 90's proportionally but
with the general online populous rising each year you would expect some
to trickle through to newsgroups.

in google groups you can click 'about this group' which gives some
rough data.    comp.programming had it's liveliest periods in the last
3 years (curiously - i suspect contributions by Ed Nilges and those
mega-threads may factor).   This group is having a slower year now.

comp.human-factors had it's peak ten years ago and has dwindled to
practically nothing in the last couple of years.   It's one of those
groups that, for whatever reason, lost it's contributors and didn't get
replacements then dipped below the critical mass of postings which
could attract new posters.

>
> 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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