Subj : Newsgroups?
To   : Chris Cranford
From : Bob Seaborn
Date : Wed Jul 25 2001 02:53 am

 >
 > -> ANY echo that is nothing but a translation/importation of newsgroups.
 >
 > So, is it just the word newsgroups that leaves a bad taste in your
 > mouth?
 > Bob, come on, there are a number of ECHOs in Fidonet which are gated in
 > some
 > shape or fashion.  It's all in the way you look at it.


      I think it's wrong to try to evolve Fido to be a usenet clone.


 >
 > If the moderator can keep the content on topic, clean, and worth while
 > to the
 > FidoNet group, what's the big deal?  So what if someone can get the
 > newsgroups
 > using Eudora, Outlook, or whatever ... What we're doing is potentially
 > offering existing members of FidoNet more value add to remain a part of
 > our
 > community. Secondly, we're paving the way to bring new members in
 > because of
 > our wide variety of content and it's ease of reaching a large audience
 > ...

      A moderator has no controls/power/etc over unmoderated newsgroups.


 >
 > ->  I don't run a bbs, haven't in about 10 years.
 >
 > So I don't get the point.  It's kind of like a catch 22.  If your a user
 > on a
 > BBS that offers FidoNet or you just move mail because that's what you
 > enjoy
 > doing, you don't have to read the mail.  As a end user, you have the
 > ability
 > to pick-n-choose what you want to be concerned with in FidoNet.  Believe
 > me, I
 > don't read the entire backbone.  I have about 50 or so echos that I read
 > periodically or scan through, but only a select hand full actually get
 > posts
 > directly from me.  Plus, if you're a mail mover system in Fidonet, isn't
 > that
 > your duty to move the mail from point A to point B regardless of content
 > or
 > volume?

      Duty, no not really.  There's some echos that over the years I've
refused to transport.  It's a service that I offer, pure and simple.  And just 
because I transport some traffic, doesn't mean I have to like it.


 >
 > -> I haven't bothered checking.
 >
 > This, so like so other issues I run into daily, people post things and
 > immediately take sides on an issue without getting ALL the facts or at
 > least
 > asking someone before attacking or choosing sides.  So, if you've not
 > checked
 > out of the content, you don't run a BBS ... what's the problem!?  Is the
 > fact
 > newsgroups being gated into the Fidonet realm hurting you or causing you
 > problems?

      I just think it's a waste of time, and unneccessary.


 >
 > -> Like I've repeatedly said, I see NO need to import newsgroups into
 > Fido-> echos, internet access is readily available literally everywhere,
 > so if
 > -> someone, anyone, wants access badly enough, they can get it.  All I see
 > -> about the importation of newsgroups is to artificially bloat someone
 > -> message stats, which is nothing more than an ego thing.
 >
 > Bob, this reply isn't an attack toward you, so please don't see it as
 > such.
 > I'm just trying to understand WHY people think the way they do without
 > looking
 > at the broader scope and seeing potential win-win for BOTH sides.  And
 > again,

      I'm not taking it personally.  I have expressed my personal opinions,
though.


 >
 >  1) XML_DISCUSSION and VB_DISCUSSION aren't the only imported newsgroups
 > 2) newsgroups aren't the only message base types being imported

      True, and I have them all lumped in a separate classification.

 >
 > -> Don't sweat, it's not you specifically we're complaining about, it's
 > -> anyone who elists and requests carriage of an echo that is nothing but a
 > -> translated newsgroup.
 >
 > Well, I'm not sweating it; however you are COMPLAINING about my feed.

      You responded earlier.  I'm complaining about ANYONE gating newsgroups
into a Fido echo as being uneccessary, unwanted by some (maybe a lot), and a 
waste of time, effort, etc.


 > What I
 > saw that stemed a lot of controversial posts about newsgroups was
 > dealing with
 > the XML forum.  Ross' post about relevant material FidoNet members..

      Bad timing, that's all.  Ross and I have been discussing the matter
privately for some time now.  Your request to the NAB just happened at the 
wrong time, maybe the right time, depends on how you look at it.

 > That's
 > my gated-newsgroup echo.  Furthoremore, isn't that what XML_DISCUSSION
 > and
 > VB_DISCUSSION is?  Request to carry an echo that is nothing but a
 > translated
 > newsgroup that I'm trying to get active FidoNet members to post in?


      Yes.






                       .....Bob

--- GEcho/32 & IM 2.50
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