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Aucbvax.4872 fa.unix-wizards utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!unix-wizards Sun Nov 1 03:27:30 1981 Format proposal for this list >From decvax!duke!ucf!whm@Berkeley Sun Nov 1 03:16:58 1981 If someone else has suggested this and I missed it, a thousand pardons for the redundancy.

In recent days there has been renewed interest in ways to reduce the volume of mail on this list. Most suggestions have been either to split the list into several lists, or to digestify the list.

Splitting the list seems to only complicate the matter as most people (I think) would subscribe to all of the new lists, but then one would have to decide which list an item should go to.

Digestifying the list has problems of reduced turnaround, finding someone to do it, and avoiding editoral menace.

I propose a Unix-wizards list and a Unix digest. Things like how-to questions, queries for software, replies to questions would go to the list. The digest could be used to handle more verbose topics such as the recent discussions on setuid bits, groups, mail systems, origins of "Unix" and "rc".

All topics would probably start by going to the list and then if much discussion cropped up, the person(s) participating in the discussion could send to the digest.

Obviously, the digest would have the problems that any digest faces with finding an editor and increased turnaround time for a message. However, if the discussion type items went to the digest, it would definitely cut down on the number of messages that a given person gets, and perhaps it would encourage more discussion on relevant topics without burdening people that "don't have the time" to sort through 30-40 messages everyday.

Comments?

Bill Mitchell, Univ. of Central Florida

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