Chuck Gould wrote:
On Feb 15, 6:53�pm, Short Wave Sportfishing

What I find curious though is the approach that you have with regard to
the off topic and oddball discussion. �I might point out that you are
not the arbiter of what is and isn't appropriate. �Usenet groups are the
ultimate democracy - almost libertarian - and the group reigns supreme
over attempts by those who wish to control. Your role in this is as one
who chides and nags and attempts to force your opinion on everyone else.
� You might say you are the very thing you rail against with your only
defense being that you wish for "purity" rather than chaos.

I vote for chaos.

And that is surely your privilege to do.

But, in trying to foster chaos, how is your activity any different
than mine? (Aside from the end you hope to achieve). You prefer a
group where chaos reigns, where you can be entertained by the flame
wars and "observe" personalities interacting. I feel that the group
has been there, done that, and over the years we have become less
useful as a resource for boaters as a result.

I would posit that it's finished it's intended purpose long ago. There
are more resources on the Web, more detail, more expertise - everything
from boating blogs to discussion forums on manufacturer's sites to -
well, it's all there already - even digest forms.

How many times does a question have to be answered before you point to
the search engine of choice with the appropriate URL and say, look here
- your answer lies at the feet of the Oracle of Google.

Out of curiosity, just this past few minutes, I Googled algae problems
for diesel fuel and found eleven entries on the web that detailed the
problem and probable causes and solutions. Why ask here for opinion when
one can find factual resources?

Usenet had it's time and it's well past.

I will continue to "jawbone" for a group where we stick to boating
most of the time. You don't have to like that or agree that having a
group centered on boating is better than a group with no particular
focus at all.

The "focused" groups are moderated forums on the Web where individuals
submit entries, have them approved and posted. These range from purpose
specific forums like hunting, fishing, sailing, power boating, trailer
boating to email lists which, by the way, have supplanted Usenet if only
for the same reasons you attempt to dictate here - purpose built and
subscribed to. I belong to four email lists that are specific to my
interests - International trucks/tractors, Corvette, club list and one
photography group which is attached to a site that I post to - two of
which I moderate. I have no problems with annotating a particular post
with editorial commentary and allowing the discussion to broaden, but I
have limits, as do the group members and attempt to keep the discussions
on track. I have terminated discussions that achieved all that could be
achieved with an explanation of why I used my authority as moderator.
Sometimes, other moderators might question a particular post or thread
and we hash that out offline and come to a consensus. That is how the
email groups were chartered and that's how they work.

You want to have a purpose built Usenet group that serves no purpose -
it seems a little Quixotic.

Boating is what brought us together as individuals - note the
individuals. In any group of individuals, interests vary and I'll say it
again - it's a yacht club party only a little more open.

You will probably continue to use the group as a blog, informing us
all about the details of your personal life and posting links to
videos you find amusing. I don't have to care much either way about
that, or agree that flame wars are useful entertainment.

I suppose your entry about Valentines Day disguised as a boating thread
was - interesting? Was that informative - something that nobody else in
the whole of this august body never knew? Was it related to boating in
some way or just finger exercise warming up for your next editorial?

Oddly, I saw several Valentines Day blog entries similar to yours here -
hmmmm....pot - kettle - black?

None of us have any ability to "control" anybody else. How unfortunate
that anybody would interpret the expression of my personal opinion as
some sort of control mechanism. Perhaps my opinion will influence
somebody, perhaps not. Same as the opinions you express- no difference
at all.

It is exactly an attempt at control - from the Chuckie dots to the
quasi-resource "articles" - you use this group exactly as I or others do
- not as often, but the intent is the same.

People in glass houses - et cetera.

(BTW, you asked about discussions at the yacht club; one thing that is
never, ever, ever discussed is partisan politics. In general, the
members respect one another enough to also respect individual
political perspectives. Live and let live.)

Oh please. Politics is politics from who is going to be the next
Commodore or Race Director to what the club will or will not support.
Each side of an issue is partisan with respect to each other.

The sign over the cyber door still says "Boating Newsgroup". I fail to
see how it is wrong to try to influence content toward that end. It's
your right and privilege to disagree.

Very - um...enlightened of you.

And I do.