Via: uk.ac.ulcc.vmsfe; Sun, 27 Feb 1994 19:39:46 +0000
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 94 19:39 GMT
From: "Kevin Ashley, Systems Development, ULCC" <CZIWKGA AT VMSFE DOT ULCC DOT AC DOT UK>
To: DJGPP <DJGPP AT SUN DOT SOE DOT CLARKSON DOT EDU>
Subject: Re: start a news group!

DJ says:
>
>I propose the following newsgroups (in following the existing
>standards where applicable):
...
>Linking these with mailing lists can be done later if the need arises.
>
>Any objections?

At the risk of over-prolonging this discussion- YES!
I'm not against the idea of the groups, but please lets sort
out gatewaying to the lists, bidirectionally, first. I have been
a subscriber to a number of mailing lists which proved very useful until
people proposed setting up newsgroups in parallel. There were always
promises to set up gatewaying A.S.A.P. but the gateways were either
never set up, or only set up after a year or more, and often didn't
work even then. The result was that the mailing list suffered as
many of its adherents went off to the newsgroup, and the group suffered
because those who could only subscribe by mail could not participate
in the news stuff.

Someone has to be in a position to operate the gateway and get it right
and know what they are letting themselves in for. It isn't a trouble-free
business. I'd volunteer our site but we're not in a position to do this
without a bi-directional news feed.

Kevin Ashley (K DOT ashley AT ulcc DOT ac DOT uk)