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!

 

[kgruber]

I used cruise the newsgroups. But, this is so much better!

 

[ClimbnSink]

Isn't that moving backwards?

 

[RJM62]

Isn't that moving backwards?

That's kind of my feeling, too. Usenet has its place. Heck, I used to live on Usenet. But now that we have shiny message boards with all sorts of neat features... do we really need a Usenet group?

-Rich

 

[Bob Noel]

I much much much MUCH prefer the usenet client MT-Newswatcher over the web forum user interface.

 

[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?

 

[ClimbnSink]

This one seems international. Not saying don't do it, just seems to be the old way and not necessarily needed. Besides if you like it here you might as well stay it seems impossible to replicate a board/forum no matter the reason for trying.

 

[pdonahue]

I am attempting to determine the interest level (and support) of a lightly moderated Usenet group to be named rec.aviation.piloting.moderated

Yes. Usenet was/is nice because you can subscribe to various groups in one place rather than remembering to go to all these different sites to read about several hobbies. RSS might make up for that but the PoA RSS feed only contains the original post on each topic and not replies.

 

[ScottM]

I am so over Usenet. Not because of anything other than the UI is clunky and its time has past. I applaud your efforts and it may serve some, but I am not interested.

 

[pmanton]

My present mail program (Outlook) doesn't support newsgroups :-(

Paul
N1431A

 

[Areeda]

I will probably check it out, but I'm much more concerned about content than forum vs usenet.

I like it here, we'll see what it's like in the new there.

 

[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!

 

[SCCutler]

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:

We have some international members active, but it is (one must acknowledge) principally USA.

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.

PM me, if you like, to let me know to whom your email was sent.

 

[flyersfan31]

I don't even know what Usenet is. I think it's where you can find lots of crazy porn, IIRC.

 

[SkyHog]

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

Oh, and people that know how to use UUENCODE.

Should I go get a rotary phone and a Tandy 1000 too, since all this fancy technology is ruining our lives?

 

[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....

 

[SCCutler]

We'll check on it; never any intent to ignore anything, here, so sorry about that.

Speaking personally (and no in my Management Council role), I think there is nothing wrong with your post at all; it doesn't seem to violate the Rules of Conduct, so far as I can tell.

 

[SkyHog]

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....

Me too!

Actually, usenet is good for warez too.

FWIW, when I was building my Kr2, it made me mad to find that all builder support was done through an email list. I lump the two together in obsolescence. But its good for those that want it, and the internet should be about choice, so good luck man!

 

[jesse]

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.

We have international pilots...and all are welcome.

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?

We're all volunteers - we have jobs and we may not respond to an e-mail instantly. To be honest I'm not sure where that admin@ e-mail address is going right now. We're looking into it.

We respond to reported posts very quickly. If someone reports a post management council members will be discussing it in less than a hour.

 

[Jay Honeck]

I think you have a good idea, Jim, but it may be "too little, too late". The hard core of the "rec.aviation" users have moved on, either to something like PofA, or Cherokee Chat, or something else. (I still communicate with half a dozen of the old rec.aviation denizens via email, nearly every day.)

Too many ISPs no longer offer access to Usenet, which means many people are stuck using abominations like "Google Groups", which results in a kludge of an interface that attempts to mimic this one. Nothing inherently wrong with this interface -- it has many nice features, and is used on all sorts of groups that I belong to now -- but (as you have said) NOTHING beats the old Usenet interface for ease of use and information exchange.

Would I check out the new newsgroup? Sure. Will it thrive? I doubt it. IMHO Usenet's time has come...and gone. But be sure to let us all know when you get it up and running!

 

[kyleb]

Unfortunately, pretty much simultaneously with the melt-down of the usenet forums, my ISP stopped providing access to usenet, so I'm out...

 

[Steve Foley]

Unfortunately, pretty much simultaneously with the melt-down of the usenet forums, my ISP stopped providing access to usenet, so I'm out...

Same here.

There was someone offering an nntp server to r.a.p. users. I don't remember who it was.

You can count me in if I can find a server. I don't like (won't use) google groups.

The person offering the nntp server was Martin Hotze.

 

[AdamZ]

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....


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?

As for the first part we are an international forum, We have participants from:

Israel
England
Germany
Canada
Sweden
New Zealand
Austrailia
I think we had one from Switzerland
Russia
India

Ok the last two were all spammers but you get the gist.

As for the second part sorry about no reply The MC will look into it.

 

[SkyHog]

As for the first part we are an international forum, We have participants from:

Israel
England
Germany
Canada
Sweden
New Zealand
Austrailia
I think we had one from Switzerland
Russia
India

Ok the last two were all spammers but you get the gist.

As for the second part sorry about no reply The MC will look into it.

And the United States...

 

[ScottM]

As for the first part we are an international forum, We have participants from:

Israel
England
Germany
Canada
Sweden
New Zealand
Austrailia
I think we had one from Switzerland
Russia
India

Ok the last two were all spammers but you get the gist.

As for the second part sorry about no reply The MC will look into it.

I have used PoA from India, USA, Canada, Japan, S. Korea, China, Taiwan, Germany, Finland, Israel, Egypt, Italy, France, Spain, UK, Ireland, Grand Cayman, Texas and Turks and Caicos.

I am definitely an international user!!

 

[Bob Noel]

Same here.

There was someone offering an nntp server to r.a.p. users. I don't remember who it was.

You can count me in if I can find a server. I don't like (won't use) google groups.

The person offering the nntp server was Martin Hotze.

And if anyone has trouble finding Martin's contact info, I'm sure
I have it on one of my home computers.

 

[Dr. O]

Nope, not me...
I have zero interest in again reading crap from several delusional "you-know-who" from RAP... Jeez, just the thought gives me hives...

denny-o

 

[Steve Foley]

Nope, not me...
I have zero interest in again reading crap from several delusional "you-know-who" from RAP... Jeez, just the thought gives me hives...

denny-o

I think the point is that those people/accounts would be banned.

 

[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.

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.

 

[Steve Foley]

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

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

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

 

[Ghery]

I have used PoA from India, USA, Canada, Japan, S. Korea, China, Taiwan, Germany, Finland, Israel, Egypt, Italy, France, Spain, UK, Ireland, Grand Cayman, Texas and Turks and Caicos.

I am definitely an international user!!

Let's see what I can remember ...

Japan, Taiwan, China, South Africa (I think), UK, Australia, Israel, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico and FL350 over the Pacific (when Boeing Connexions was still available). There may be others, as well.

 

[Henning]

I don't even know what Usenet is. I think it's where you can find lots of crazy porn, IIRC.

Yes, yes it is... at least that's what I heard....

 

[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.