From: blueshirt@indigo.news   
      
   Scott Dorsey wrote:   
      
   > Blueshirt  wrote:   
   > >   
   > > What about the newsgroups that discuss these shows, are they   
   > > not a part of "fandom" too? I mean, a fan writing something   
   > > about a sci-fi show for a fanzine or in a Usenet post is   
   > > pretty similar. A newsgroup could even be considered an   
   > > online fanzine!   
   >   
   > Yes. The rec.arts.sf.fandom group could be thought of as a   
   > metagroup for discussing those groups. It's not a fanzine,   
   > it's a place where people discuss fanzines.   
      
   Oh goodie... we'll have to start some threads here about "Doctor   
   Who" fanzines so!   ;-)   
      
   > >> In recent days the unwanted Dr. Who slop has exceeded all   
   > >> other traffic in that newsgroup, threatening to destroy it.   
   > >   
   > > How can traffic destroy a newsgroup? Traffic keeps it alive.   
   > > You are free to use filters or killfiles to ignore the   
   > > posts/posters that you don't want to see and/or read though.   
   >   
   > That's what we do for the most part.   
      
   Proper order. That's the correct way to read Usenet newsgroups.   
      
   > All of the Dr. Who threads in r.a.s.f come from one person   
   > and if people would trim the newsgroups line when replying   
   > to him, we woudn't see any of the trash.   
      
   That's a valid complaint. Although in fairness, 'he' didn't   
   actually start this thread.   
      
   > > Also, who decides what content is wanted and unwanted on any   
   > > specific newsgroup? Surely the readers of any newsgroup   
   > > exercise their own judgement by using the aforesaid filter   
   > > mechanisms to decide what content they read, or ignore?   
   >   
   > Well, there is a newsgroup charter after all.   
      
   Nobody here seems to be complaining about the "The government   
   shutdown" thread. Is that [off-topic] subject mentioned in this   
   newsgroup's charter? Plus, the person who started that thread   
   didn't even mark it as OT!   
      
   We were also discussing learning to drive and electronic   
   cars here a few weeks back too, I can't recall seeing anybody   
   complaining about that discussion either.   
      
      
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)