Geoff Schultz wrote:
Jeff wrote in :

Geoff Schultz wrote:
...
Regarding the commercial postings: It always amazes me how there are
members of this group and others who think there are some official
rules which dictate what can be posted here. I've certainly never
see any such thing, and I used to run an ISP. There may be
suggestions, but no rules.
Of course there are rules. They where set forth when the group was
created:

rec.boats.cruising Cruising in boats.

CHARTER

The proposed unmoderated newsgroup rec.boats.cruising will be open to
discussions on all topics related to cruising in boats such as:
- cruising equipment
- cruising reports
- destinations: Including where to moor/anchor, restaurants to
visit, sights to see and where/how to provision
- discussion of long-distance passagemaking and related issues
- discussion on navigation
- requests for crews and for boats to crew on
- upcoming events, cruises, etc
- etc.

The proposed unmoderated newsgroup rec.boats.cruising will not be open
to for-sale postings. Appropriate advertisements should be directed
to rec.boats.marketplace.

It is hoped that a FAQ will be developed.

This is the Internet...

If there were rules, you wouldn't see copyrighted manuals and
software posted to news groups. I agree that I don't want to see
these news groups filled up with commercial posting.

There are some that feel that if a rule isn't enforced, it doesn't
really exist. I'm sure the Berny Madoff felt that way.

When was the last time that anyone posted these "rules" to this news
group? And when was this posted and to where?

Its been a few years. But the issue of commercial posts is discussed
several time a year, with very few people indeed saying they think it
would be good if everyone who has a product or boat to sell posted here.

It's my guess that this
was before anyone could create any group that they want and there was
going to be some form of control over groups. Clearly that went out of
the window many, many years ago. These are nice suggestions, not rules.

No, they are the rules. Your only point is that they are unenforcible.


And there are also rules against posting using fake addresses/psuedonyms,
etc. Clearly no one follows them in here.

Is this a confession? Actually, most of the posters have used only one
handle, and many have identified themselves. The fact that several
choose not to does not mean we have all left the pale of civilized
behavior. Actually, I'm inclined to believe the story that Neil died
and Wilbur is his "legacy" because until a few years ago Neil did not
engage much in sock puppets.

You can't select to follow
some rules and not others.

Isn't that exactly what you are suggesting? That everyone should simply
pick the rules they want to follow? Or are you suggesting that we make
a point of breaking all rules? ASA is an example of that path.