[SpamCop-List] Re: News Admin: Newsgroup Charter?

[YoKenny]

"Sue Morton" <AppyFace3000> wrote in message
news:95cim4$6tu$1
> Thanks to those who have commented so far.  I would like to address a few
> specific points that were mentioned:
>
> michael wrote:
>  so, anyone making it as far as the mailing list or newsgroup should (so
> the theory goes) already have seen everything they need to see to know
> the rules and not ask questions which have already been asked...
>
> if people aren't seeing that stuff, then either it's because they're not
> bothering to read stuff as they should, or because they're being
> referred here by other means...
> ....
>
Sue, I will offer my comments inline as I prefer to see answers right after
the stated situations and not have to wade through to the end of posts.
I have been *plonked*, had profanity used to express reader's disagreement
with my views and helpfull hints that I should read RFCs before I post
(without refering to which RFCs) because I am a "newbie."
So a helpful hint for you. In your IE newsreader go to tools >> Options >>
Send >> News sending format >> Plain text settings and select Indent
original text with >

> I believe I mentioned in my post that many of us read that stuff but have
no
> frame of reference with which to understand it.  You guys have been neck
> deep in this for awhile.  But many of us are confused by what we see,
having
> no experience with it (and do other things with our time than study it.
Not
> your fault, but there it is).  So we blindly ask for help, offer as much
> evidence as we think would be of benefit, and hope for enlightenment.  As
we
> learn and things become clear, we find it easier to understand what the
FAQ
> has been saying all along.  Not everyone that uses a PC is a "Computer
> Professional" or has even had a basic windows class.  But we are all
trying
> to fight spam.

Very true!  Even though I am a "Computer Professional" I am a "newbie" to
newsgroups. So I received a lot of abuse because I had not followed
"Netiquete."  I read  all of the RFCs and "Netiquete" that friendly posters
offered me.  This took me a long time as the "abusers" seem to outnumber the
"friendlys."  This was in the grc newsgroup where I learned about this
newsgroup.

> michael wrote:
> i wouldn't advocate bunging up the newsserver / archive with a huge
> posting, but it might be a good idea to have a regular posting of a
> brief pointer to the FAQ, the rules and the purpose of each group...
> ....
> I agree Michael.
> I didn't advocate an 'end-all be-all' posting.  In fact, I mentioned these
> should be brief.
>
> RW wrote:
> Regular posting of a Charter is only going to benefit (and eventually
> irritate) the regular users here.  A new user coming in to make their
> one post/question isn't going to wade through hundreds of posts before
> asking their question.  As michael pointed out, most users go through
> the help pages to find the server where the main rules are prominently
> posted.
>
> In fact, most newbies never make it to the server.
> ...

RW. Very short quotes referencing specific RFCs or URLs really helped me
fast.
Infact, going to the SpamCop newsgroup from the FAQ, I do not see any
reference to "Netiquete" or "Please read this before posting to SpamCop
newsgroup"  Maybe I have missed something?

>
> I am a regular user of this newsgroup.  Please don't speak for me that I
> would be the only one to benefit or would be irritated.  In fact, I
politely
> suggest you speak only for yourself.
>
> Regarding the new user, I believe I mentioned in my post that I didn't
think
> the Charter would not help with the problem of new people posting
'wrongly'.
> I 'hung out' for a bit before making a first post.  Perhaps I would have
> seen the Charter before making that errant post if it was introduced to
the
> ng often enough.  Perhaps, though, I still would not have understood it
and
> made the same mistakes.  I do not know.
>
> I'll say again:  I do not know if this idea would help.  I believe it
would
> in some cases, or I would not have mentioned it.  If I am the only one
> (well, two, thanks "The Real G'Day"!), then of course it will not happen.
I
> really like the Charters in the other groups I regularly visit.  They
> mention things like whether there is a mailing list ("so please snip
quoted
> material on replies down to just the part you are discussing"), simple
rules
> ("only attachments under 40k are allowed") etc.  Very small and
> straightforward, and they refer a to website page for full details with
full
> explanations.  As things change I am kept informed.  I like that.
>
> Sue
<snip>

Sue, I am happy you brought this topic up.  I was begining to feel like I
was a bit thick by not understanding newsgroup acronyms, vocabulary,
euphemisms, RFCs and Netiquete before being allowed to ask my "newbie"
questions.  ;-)
--
Regards, YoKenny
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