Randall wrote:
>
> "Michael D. Porter" wrote:
> <snip>
> >
> > Admittedly, the only thing I can see of advantage to a newsgroup is that
> > one doesn't have to download email, just headers,
>
> Some of the fancier email clients will also do this. Eudora is one.
The point being that most people use a POP3 server of some sort. Headers
are lower overhead. I don't think it's an issue for most folks, but
still....
> > and there's no storage
> > problem on one's own drive,
>
> But there still can be a storage problem on the server, causing it to
> discard messages before you get to see them.
As I mentioned. Again, I'm not in disagreement.
> Another disadvantage is that everyone knows how to run their email, but
> many don't know how to access USENET. I doubt most ISPs would be
> willing to give tech support to people trying to access a private server
> ... not to mention the rather horrid delays with trying to access a
> USENET server from halfway around the globe.
>
> I agree, the mail list works much better than a newsgroup. Why replace
> a Triumph with a MG ? <G>
Ah, well, there are those who still think differently, no? <smile>
Newsgroups have their place--they are a minimal maintenance item--but,
there are implicit problems with them--foremost among them spam. I
virtually never reply to a newsgroup directly (and if I feel the need to
respond to a sender from a newsgroup, always do so privately, and for
that reason, have no virtually no trouble with spam whatsoever. A lot of
people, accustomed to newsgroups, never think of the additional trouble
they cause. If there were no commercial interest in the newsgroups, the
matter would be entirely different, as you understand, I'm sure.
I'm one of those people who sent Mark B. a few bucks to offset his costs
and time to maintain the mailing list, because it's worth it to me to be
free of the hassles created by participation in a newsgroup. Usenet was
great before the commercial concerns saw it as a source of raw material.
Sort of a "that was then, this is now" situation. <smile>
Cheers, Randall.
--
Michael D. Porter
Roswell, NM
mailto: mporter@zianet.com
`70 GT6+ (being refurbished, slowly)
`71 GT6 Mk. III (organ donor)
`72 GT6 Mk. III (daily driver)
`64 TR4 (awaiting intensive care)
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