Newsgroups: comp.graphics
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From: bcorrie@csr (Brian  Corrie)
Subject: Re: Proposal for comp.graphics.research newsgroup
Message-ID: <bcorrie.672942840@csr>
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Organization: University of Victoria
References: <9104270206.AA17499@nomis.csd.uwo.ca> <14581@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>
Date: 29 Apr 91 16:34:00 GMT

jamison@boulder.ColoState.EDU (Jamie Gulden) writes:
>In article <9104270206.AA17499@nomis.csd.uwo.ca> clipper@csd.uwo.ca (Khun Yee Fung) writes:
>>>>>>> On 26 Apr 91 22:20:29 GMT, turk@Apple.COM (Ken "Turk" Turkowski) said:
>>Ken> Even though I work in the field of computer graphics, I have
>>Ken> thought about unsubscribing to comp.graphics because none of the
>>Ken> articles are interesting.
>  Me too.  

The number of research discussions being carried out in this group has
diminished a bit, but I wouldn't go so far as to say nothing is interesting.
If you have been struggling through the high volume of this group (try
reading the C/Unix groups some time 8-) you will probably have noticed that when
an interesting/pertinent research oriented question gets asked, it is usually
answered/replied to very promptly by those that are experts in the area. This
demonstrates (to me anyway) that the people are still there. One of the problems
is that researchers are busy people (both with research, and dealing with
administrivia at their respective instituions), so they don't have time to
spend wading through all of the info here. Another problem (as already stated
by someone) is that people are reluctant to broadcast to the world
(understandably) what they are going to be publishing in next years SIGGRAPH
proceedings.

They are out there, they are just relatively quiet. For instance, a recent
burst of discussion on the RenderMan shading language in comp.graphics
resulted in a posting from Tony Apodaca, one of the Pixar team that
worked on it. One can't ask for better input than that. Questions get asked
and answered, but often seem insignificant with respect to the number of
postings that are non-research oriented.

>>Ken> I propose the establish the newsgroup:
>>Ken> 	comp.graphics.research

I like this idea.

>>May be comp.graphics.request should be established
>  Would anyone use it, just like alt.pixutils (or whatever it is)
>where half of the current comp.graphics belongs

This I am a bit hesitant about. I don't think a group for requests is called
for at this point. Combined with the FAQ posting and the usually prompt replies,
these messages are not that much of a problem, are they? They are important
questions. If only people could be a little more disciplined/knowledgable
about the availability of FAQ postings.

>>But I don't know
>>whether there will be enough traffic for the research group though.

I think there will be enough traffic once it gets rolling. We just have to
encourage people to discuss things more readily. 

>  Maybe having a group without the sludge will bring out those who
>are tired of current situation and develope some serious discussions?
>  I would say that a more specific group will get better results then
>creating another group and asking others to move to it.

>Jamie

I think the most important factor of this proposed news group is the fact that
it will allow those that don't want to wade through alot of non-research
oriented postings to find those that are of interest to them. As to the issue
of Moderation, I am neither for nor against it. On the one hand, moderation
would provide a good research oriented discussion. Unfortuantely, someone has
to take the rains and decide what is a research article. If we choose
moderation, it should be of the type that filters out the ``request for A''
and ``How do I get machine B to run Ray Tracer C'' type messages. The moderator
should not decide whether a given article is ``good research'' or not. If it
is of a research nature, then it shold be allowed.

On that note, I'll say that I don't think moderation is necessary. comp.graphics
is one of the most disciplined news groups that I read. Few flame wars (although
there is the odd good debate over book reviews 8-), and few nasty comments. If
we start comp.graphics.research, and someone does not follow the guide lines
for postings, I'm sure someone will send a polite personal email message
saying that their post was not appropriate for this news group.
No moderation => a better discussion (IMHO)

In summary, yes to the news group, no to moderation (although I can be
convinced otherwise)

	B


--
                  Brian Corrie (bcorrie@csr.uvic.ca)
Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of pressure, temperature,
volume, humidity and other variables, the organism will do as it damn well
pleases. Sounds like some of the code I have written......  8-)
