On the creation of a Usenet rec.aviation.piloting.moderated newsgroup

[Jim Logajan]

This is directed to all the former readers of the Usenet newsgroup rec.aviation.piloting who moved to this fine forum when that group descended into chaos.

I am attempting to determine the interest level (and support) of a lightly moderated Usenet group to be named rec.aviation.piloting.moderated. I would appreciate any posts of support there (and eventually to the group creation admins.) To that end I started a thread there with this subject line:

POLL: Would you participate in a rec.aviation.piloting.moderated newsgroup?

The group would co-exist with the unmoderated rec.aviation.piloting. Posters, rather than posts, would be the elements subject to moderation. It is quicker and easier for all involved if users must perform a one-time registration post (in which their e-mail address, posting handle, and NSP are recorded, though if a posting handle is used then the e-mail address is not published.) The registration is manually validated by a moderator who approves all registrations. After registration approval, when the user posts, the NSP and posting handle are automatically checked against the record list and the post is approved if a record is found.

Pros:
No delay in postings.
No extra work for moderators.
No easy nym-shifting by malevolent posters.

Cons: De-registration for abuse could only occur after-the-offense.

Thank you!

 

[Jim Logajan]

Isn't that moving backwards?

Well this forum is inherently more provincial (last I checked it's called "Pilots of America," not "Pilots of the World") so for those who want a more international forum it would be a step forward.

However, I'm sure there is a great deal of value in setting one's avatar, so this forum has the edge. (Though even on Usenet a fair number of Usenet readers support the X-Face header - which is roughly equivalent.)

I did send an e-mail to the admin address for this web site three days ago and still haven't seen a response, so if this forum is being managed, it is a bit on the slow side. If that is typical, then what would that mean for responsiveness to anyone who began trolling or spamming?

 

[Jim Logajan]

As I said, I'm trying to determine interest. If less than 15 people say they would try to use a r.a.p.m group, then I don't see it as worthwhile. It may indeed be too late - but I say it can't hurt to try.

I need the people who are willing to use the group to post their positive intentions on rec.aviation.piloting. If enough respond, I'll be asked by the Usenet newsgroup creation deities for a human sacrifice, er, I mean they'll ask to see whether there is support from more than about a dozen people, and posts to r.a.p would help prove their existence. Use Google Groups access if you no longer have regular NNTP access.

(In my humble opinion, the software for reading Usenet groups has traditionally had superior interfaces that aided fast scanning and browsing. I still haven't seen anything that performed that well on Web forums.)

Thanks all for your patience!

 

[Jim Logajan]

Jim:
I'd be interested in where your email went, because when it comes to admin issues, the MC (Management Council) is pretty snappy. Typical time from a bad post report to action taken is rarely longer than an hour, and usually a lot less.

I sent an e-mail about 3 PM PDT on 9/20/2010 to admin@pilotsofamerica.com with the subject line "Question on whether the following may be posted" which basically asked whether it would be OK to post the message I used to start this thread. Seemed reasonable to first check that the admins would be OK with a post that might be considered "user poaching." I took 3 days of silence as permission.

Would be curious to know what became of my e-mail too. Ignored for being too stupid for words? Spam trapped? Wrong address (I used the one I believe was provided in the FAQs which gave it as the address to send questions is one wanted clarification on what could be posted)? Routed into Lake Michigan?

 

[Jim Logajan]

Usenet is great for 80 year old people that never got past "Me too" responses.

Is not!

I think there are also some newsgroups with free porn available for those 80 year old people (or is that supposed to be teenagers?) who have limited options for the "real thing?" Not that I would know anything about those newsgroups - read rumors somewhere. Not being 80 years old or a teenager anymore....

 

[Jim Logajan]

POLL RESULTS for creation of a Usenet rec.aviation.piloting.moderated newsgroup

By my count, there were 11 people (including myself) who explicitly stated here, on Usenet rec.aviation.piloting, or via private e-mail that they would be willing to give such a group a try. Posters that weren't explicit or clear in their intent, or merely provided commentary, weren't counted.

The count is under my own set goal of 12. And I would have preferred more than 20.

So I will not be initiating any efforts to create a r.a.p.m. :sad:

If anyone else wishes to try, I would be willing to provide support but I will not lead such an effort.

Thanks to everyone who supported the idea.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Re: POLL RESULTS for creation of a Usenet rec.aviation.piloting.moderated newsgroup

Thanks for trying. Just out of curiosity, did anyone who would have been banned express interest?

I would not have banned anyone from the outset. There was only one poster on r.a.p expressing interest who I imagine that it would have either gotten himself bounced or enticed others to get themselves bounced.