Text File

Aazure.419 net.general,net.news.groups utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!mhtsa!ihnss!houxi!floyd!harpo!cbosg!teklabs!tekmdp!azure!curts Fri Jan 22 12:34:16 1982 net.newsgroups Currently, a newsgroup usually contains information about a specific subject. Since there is a limit to the number of newsgroups that can be updated by a .newsrc file, but no limit to the number of subjects we could conceive of, this will eventually create a bottleneck in the path of information flow.

I think that the time has come for a little preventive medicine. In my opinion, there is a need for a "current" list of newsgroups. I would think that this list must also contain a description of each newsgroup. This would ensure that the material subscribers find in a newsgroup is actually about the subject they are interested in. It would also enhance the news medium for those of us that try to read a little bit of everything.

So, I would like to suggest a new newsgroup.

net.newsgroups - a list of all current newsgroups, including a short description of the subject of the newsgroup. This would ensure that people send material to the right place. If updated (bi-weekly ?) net.newsgroups would also make it easier to select the groups you would like to subscribe to.

I am willing to maintain this list, at least for a time. If you agree or disagree that there is a need for net.newsgroups, respond to:

" ucbvax!teklabs!tekmdp!curts "

or in net.news.groups

The format I have in mind requires input from those that first suggested a group and from those that are current subscribers. If a concensus is reached I would compile the descriptions from material submitted to net.summary or some such yet to be established newsgroup. Only the list itself would appear in net.newsgroups.

Curt Stephens

----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen <jgoerzen@complete.org> of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/

This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided:

1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles.

2. The following notice remains appended to each copy:

The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.