XPost: alt.culture.usenet, news.groups
In <
652b2480@news.ausics.net>
not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) writes:
In news.groups Paul W. Schleck <pschleck@panix.com> wrote:
In <6523329a@news.ausics.net> not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) writes:
Do they intend some sort of invasion of Usenet to drive out the
existing users and make it into their own free Reddit replacement?
Where else should we recruit new, quality participants for Usenet?
I'd be glad for people to come to Usenet from Reddit or the Web in
general, but not with a pre-formed adjenda to turn it into
something else. If you/they want to discuss changing things in
Usenet, do it where existing Usenet users can participate in the
discussion. You probably won't get support on a lot of proposals,
but maybe some things that Reddit users propose are actually some
reasons why people like me never did use Reddit in the first place.
I just found the idea amusing that there was a contingent of coordinated Reddit-sourced insurgents ready to Juggernaut March onto Usenet and mold
it into their image. Neither Reddit nor Usenet is that organized, nor important.
It's somewhat similar to a previously expressed fear (or ridicule) that
a group of ham radio operators were poised to "take over" Usenet, and by extension, subject it to greater jurisdiction of the FCC. I previously defended the idea of such people helping to support Usenet for several
reasons:
- The requirements of initial and ongoing qualification for federal
licensing means that they are at least nominally sane and
law-abiding.
- They are able to work towards projects and goals that require
long-term, organized effort.
- They are experts with technology, self-training, and volunteer
service.
- They are passionate enough about their pursuits, and the history and
legacy of their century-old avocation, to think that something like
Usenet is actually important.
Gentrification is one strategy to clean up a slum, though admittedly an
imperfect one. It would at least improve real-estate values and reduce
crime. One way to resist gentrification would be to organize existing
residents that want to improve their neighborhoods and for them to take
responsibility to do so.
An interesting, albeit slightly threatening, metaphore. But I still
don't see why you/they think the discussion should happen at Reddit
instead of on Usenet.
Sometimes something can only be objectively evaluated from a distance,
and Reddit provides a reasonably civil and accessible forum to do that.
Seems that every time someone tries to discuss the present or future
state of Usenet, or even try to make plans, on Usenet, that some want to
turn every such discussion into a public Battle Royale, where everything
is fought to the proverbial death. As the founder of Wikipedia noted:
"I strongly disapprove of _arguing_ as a mode of moving forward. That's
so.... Usenet." - Jimbo Wales
Somewhat related example: Rational discussion about jazz was impossible
in the U.S. for many years because it was widely viewed as evil, full of junkies, sex fiends, and (even worse) racially integrated groups
collaborating artistically. It really wasn't until the French
independently observed U.S. jazz as a valid art form that it gained
wider acceptance and respect.
--
Paul W. Schleck
pschleck@panix.com
So are you Parker51MKII, the author of these posts at Reddit, or
not? I can't keep up this double-talk trying to cover either
possibility forever!
I hear that he is related to Larsen E. Rapp III.
--
Paul W. Schleck
pschleck@panix.com
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
