BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Questions from the USCG OUPV or 100-ton exam

John H.[_3_]

On Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:33:45 -0500, wrote:

On Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:50:49 -0500, John H.
wrote:

On Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:08:48 -0500, HK wrote:

D.Duck wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
...
Tim wrote:
On Feb 12, 5:18 am, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:52:07 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Is there really such a thing as "news" on USENET?
Originally, in the land of the Intertubes and long before the WWW,
Usenet was the way to organize, thread and post messages of interest.
During the early days, it was the way for the average joe to
communicate with others via computer. A lot like IRC (which came a
lot later) actually only much more text based and permanent. It was
kind of an offshoot of the original ARPAnet.

Originally, Usenet was set up in hierarchies and those hierarchies
were enforced by common discipline. Originally, there were eight
hierarchies - comp (computer), misc., news., sci. (science), talk,
soc. (social), rec. (recreational), and humanties.

The individual hierarchy group approval process requried a FAQ and a
strict spam policy and a review of it's purpose by a "council" and an
open discussion group of wether the new group was a duplication of a
current news group or something original. It was lengthy.

This control was eventually challenged by the alt. category (created
originally by the open net crowd) who chaffed under the "control"
enforced by the original eight hierarchy and the approval process.

At some point, the system became so large and unmanageable that
everybody pretty much gave up trying to control it. At about the same
time as the control collapse, the WWW started to really take off and
new methods replaced Usenet like web forums, chat, etc.

So the answer to the question is that yes, once it served a great
purpose and worked as long as everybody played the same game.

Now? Not so much.
Tom, jsut in the last couple years a friend of mine passed away But he
was on the "ground floor" of public computer link and internet
technology. He was the origional "Sysop" of "Omega Bullitin Boards.
Com) Omegabbs.

He used to monitor his various chat forums,a nd if somebody go into a
cussing fit, he'd give them an hr. or so "time out". or if servere and
repeated he'd boot em off.

So primitive in the day that he'd have to shut the main computer down
at from 2:AM- 4:AM just so it could "purge" itself...

anyhow ....

Like many others, I "subscribe" or am "a member of" several non-usenet
discussion "groups." Most of the discussions are on-topic, but not all,
and all manner of "fooling around" is tolerated, but the personal insult
kings, a**holes like Reggie, Loogy, Jim, et cetera, are quickly banned.
Their IPs are logged, and they can't post again. Ever.

Except if a proxy is used.

Oh, the "regulars" quickly pick up on a repeat offender, even if a proxy
is used, and then...they are banned again. After a while, the a**holes
simply give up, move on... and then they hear about this place, where
"a**hole-ery" is not only tolerated, it is encouraged.

Who encourages you, Harry?

Oh, never mind. There are a couple here who think you're 'cool'.

Just think back on how many times YOU said he was a "really neat guy".

I was only trying to fit in and have special friends.
--
John H