Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting
From: Kevin Goodsell (usenet1.spamfree.fusion_at_neverbox.com)
Date: 12/06/03
- Next message: Joona I Palaste: "Re: Solved by reading this Group!"
- Previous message: Ernst Berg: "Solved by reading this Group!"
- In reply to: Bjorn Reese: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting (was: How do I: Main thread spawn child threads..._"
- Next in thread: Barry Margolin: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting"
- Reply: Barry Margolin: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting"
- Reply: Barry Margolin: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
Date: Sat, 06 Dec 2003 21:38:39 GMT
Bjorn Reese wrote:
> On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 19:40:48 +0000, Kevin Goodsell wrote:
>
>
>>our group. When somebody cross-posts an off-topic message, we have to
>>ask the other groups to remove us from the cross-post list when
>>replying. I expect people in any other group to do the same, and
>>certainly wouldn't complain if a member of some other group replied to a
>>cross post in c.l.c to tell us that the thread is not topical in their
>
>
> All other groups that I am subscribed to uses a different tactic
> to handle off-topic postings; they ignore them. Only comp.lang.c
> feels compelled to teach everybody about their charter.
In my experience, people lacking the netiquette skills to post
appropriately also tend to re-post over and over. But more important
than that is the fact that comp.lang.c gets a great number of off-topic
posts. We *have* to actively discourage off-topic posting just to
maintain a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio, and keep the overall
quantity of posts manageable.
If by "everybody" you are referring to the people in other groups, then
I agree. A "that's off-topic here" message isn't appropriate as a
cross-post (and I think it usually only happens by accident). What I was
trying to say is that a message saying "please remove us from the
cross-post list when replying" is appropriate, and to some degree necessary.
>
> As long as comp.lang.c uses their tactic within their own group
> I am not going to object, but I have a problem when they
> cross-post to other groups, and set the follow-up to all groups
> except their own group. Discussions about the charter of
> comp.lang.c are topical on comp.lang.c and only there, so the
> follow-up should be set to comp.lang.c and not any other group.
I don't think it's expected that discussion will continue to center on
c.l.c's charter[*]. I assume the expectation is that the topic of
discussion will be that of the original post, which does not belong in
c.l.c. As for whether it belongs in the other groups - well, we're not
always able to tell.
That said, I *don't* use the method you are objecting to. I generally
set no follow-ups at all. I figure no one will reply anyway (directly to
my request, that is - and in my experience, this is almost always the
case), so I've never really thought about it. But I also don't think
your suggested alternative is completely appropriate. Actually, I don't
really recognize this as a problem at all, because people usually don't
reply to those messages. All I can say is that I'll keep in mind that
setting the follow-ups for all the other groups may annoy people, and
(continue to) not do it.
[*]Technically, c.l.c has no charter - it predates Usenet charters. But
it does have a specific topic.
>
>
>>We in comp.lang.c do our best to be good neighbors. We're sorry for the
>>noise, but blame the original cross-poster, not us.
>
>
> The original poster will be educated about the comp.lang.c charter
> by the replies that are sent exclusively to comp.lang.c.
Do you really think that inappropriate cross-posters read all the groups
they cross-post to?
>
> Should any replies omit to remove comp.lang.c from the cross-
> posting then I am sorry about the noise, but at least you have
> the posibility to killfile the thread -- we don't because the
> thread, apart from the postings about what is topical on
> comp.lang.c, is topical on our groups.
>
> I do not perceive the comp.lang.c charter cross-posting, nor your
> refusal to respect the charters of other groups, as good
> neighborship.
>
> Please respect the fact that discussions about what is and is not
> topical on comp.lang.c are not topical on other groups.
It's certainly not my intent to disrespect any other group's charter,
nor do I believe that that's the intent of the others on comp.lang.c.
I would like 2 things clarified: first, I would like to clarify that
what I am advocating is simply a short, polite message saying something like
This message is not topical in <insert group here>. Please
remove it from the cross-post list when replying. Thank you.
Second, I would like it clarified for me whether this is actually what
others are objecting to. It seems quite reasonable to me, but if it's a
problem for a significant number of people then I will stop doing it and
stop advocating it.
-Kevin
-- My email address is valid, but changes periodically. To contact me please use the address from a recent posting.
- Next message: Joona I Palaste: "Re: Solved by reading this Group!"
- Previous message: Ernst Berg: "Solved by reading this Group!"
- In reply to: Bjorn Reese: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting (was: How do I: Main thread spawn child threads..._"
- Next in thread: Barry Margolin: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting"
- Reply: Barry Margolin: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting"
- Reply: Barry Margolin: "Re: [OT] Polite cross-posting"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
Relevant Pages
|
