Message-ID: <331A1BCD.1F63@pobox.oleane.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 1997 01:31:09 +0100
From: Francois Charton <deef AT pobox DOT oleane DOT com>
Organization: CCMSA
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
CC: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: c.o.m.djgpp retro-moderated?
References: <199703022040 DOT PAA22429 AT delorie DOT com>
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DJ Delorie wrote:
> 
> Is anyone interested in discussing the idea of switching the
> comp.os.msdos.djgpp newsgroup from "unmoderated" to "retro-moderated"
> status?  Basically, this means that the retro-moderators (chosen by
> the group) would have the authority to cancel any post for any reason
> if they feel that such posts are not in line with the group's charter
> (or if they just feel like it).
> 
> While the c.o.m.djgpp newsgroup (and corresponding mailing list) has a
> fairly high quality, There have been a number of lengthy off-topic
> threads (below) that I personally feel should not have happened on
> this forum.  Switching to retro-moderated would have allowed someone

Is it worth the bother? There are extremely few off-topic threads, which 
do not represent a threat for the group. 

Furthermore, our offtopic topics are not so bad: all off-topic things I 
have read on the group are actually related to programming, to C, and to 
djgpp. I have never seen debates on politics (though we get our anti 
Microsoft crusades, or debates on freeware vs commercial programs every 
once in a while), sports, TV shows, religion or philosophy ... nor the 
useless flamewars which happen on many other NGs, or people/companies 
advertising online. And when such a thread starts, people on the group 
are well behaved enough to take it to private e-mail. 

The only exception to this I have seen was a spelling discussion on the 
word "pallete" (that was when you were out, Shawn), which you rightly 
stopped with an "enough of this!" message (and the thread died in the 
minute).

So, I don't think moderation is needed for comp.os.msdos.djgpp: there are 
not many things to moderate, and discipline prevails among readers. 
Moreover, if such a long off-topic thread should happen, just one 
"enough!" message from you, Eli, or any other of the few respected 
authorities in the group will probably do. Some kind of "informal" retro 
moderation...


Regards
Francois