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Bruce In Bangkok

On Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:34:26 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:16:33 -0500, 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?

The DEFAULT rules that cover ALL groups in the Alt groups hierarchy
says no advertising allowed in any of them unless a particular group
allows it specifically in the charter for that group.

I suspect that the basis for the rule - no for-sale postings - is to
prevent the group from being inundated with people who's only interest
is to sell something. And, of course, those who are damning the for
sale item.

If you look around Usenet you can see a number of groups that have not
actively banned "for sale" postings and in general they have become
simply lists of stuff for sale. No discussion at all. On the other
hand if someone were to develop something really innovative I, for
one, would like to hear about it.

I don't know where the line should be drawn but I do believe that
there should be a line somewhere since if there isn't we are going to
turn into a group where the only discussion will be whether to buy our
fake Rolex from Hongkong or Russia....
Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)