On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:34:26 -0800 (PST), jim
wrote:

On Nov 15, 2:47 pm, wrote:
On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:07:48 -0600, Jim Redelfs

wrote:
There are already plenty of forums that do that. Sadly, they are all
web-based - an interface that I CANNOT stand.

That's exactly how I feel about those web based things, and being on
dialup, it would take me the whole day just to READ all the posts that
are on here, much less reply to anything

There are distinct advantages - and DISadvantages - to a moderated forum,
regardless of the user interface:

The advantages include virtually NO spam, trolls or OT postings.

I have always enjoyed the light-hearted attitude on this group. It
stays fairly close to the topic, but still leaves room for some funny
stuff, even if it is a bit off topic. I have to admit I enjoy posting
some of that stuff myself, in between the serious stuff. Some people
seem to think everyone that is not 100% on topic and serious is a
troll. Yet they go to business meetings (in real life) and none of
them are all serious either. We need a little goofiness. The spam on
the other hand is a problem, but thats what filters are for.

The biggest DISadvantage, besides the user interface, is the
occasional/inevitable iron-fisted, out-of-control, whacko moderator. These
frustrating Nazis can, without notice or negotiation, shut out ANYONE they
choose. Such forums are true, on-line dictatorships. Whether or not they are
a BENEVOLENT dictatorship depends on the whims of the moderator.

I joined a moderated group some years back. The group was on the
fringe of politics, and in many ways, politics influenced what the
group was discussing, more than anything else. I made a comment
against our president, and was abruptly kicked off the group by the
"Nazi-like" moderator. I received a private email from the mod.
telling me that I would be allowed back on the group after I "cleaned
up my act", and I would then be required to post an apology to the
group. I told that mod. to shove the group up her butt.

I'll keep using usenet - and my filters - until I can stand it no longer. I
have quite a ways to go before that happens, thankfully.
--

This newsgroup has far less spam than other groups. My thoughts are
that those who run the usenet servers should be doing a better job of
blocking the obvious spam. Especially those who charge a fee to use
their service. Almost every day there seems to be a specific spam
that goes to every newsgroup in existence. Why are they not blocking
these? I cant expect them to block every instance of spam, but these
"newsgroup flooders" should be blocked before they even appear. It
can not be all that difficult to automatically detect when a messsage
subject it being posted to ALL groups, and block them, or block
something that is being repeated daily such as the "natural penis...."
stuff. Many people pay to use these groups. Why are those who make
the money not doing their job?

Should not the huge thing called Google look after it as they put
there name on it it is becoming less fun to sort thru the crap

Thats when it began going downhill. They should have left it alone,
but I suppose they somehow make money from it and thats all the care
about. It's just like the old Egroups. They worked good, were easy
to use, and not flooded with ads. Then Yahoo took over and they are
nearly useless now. As I said before, a large amont of the time
people can not even sign on, An error message just pops up.
I think the internet was a lot more useful and more fun when it first
began. It's just become a giant ad, and the web is much worse than
the newsgroups.