Re: Objections to adverts?

From: xanadu@dnai.com (Greg Oberfield)

Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 00:00:00 +0000

In article <DrEo67.4tJ@deshaw.com>, lindahl@deshaw.com (Greg Lindahl) wrote:

> In article <4nab39$leu@epx.cis.umn.edu>,
> Garrett R Le-Page <lepag001@maroon.tc.umn.edu> wrote:
>
> > My only complaint
> >with Greg has been that he frequently responds to questions about "what
> >new games to play" by telling the poster to read the FAQ.  However, many
> >of these instances take place when I cannot find the FAQ posted.  If the
> >FAQ is going to be the only source for new game info, then it should be
> >posted constantly on the group.
>
> I post it once a week. There's no way for me to make it appear 100% of
> the time, and posting it more frequently would be annoying and
> probably wouldn't be any more effective -- people just ignore it.  I
> could add an "expires" header but they get ignored by most news software.
>
> > Also, I think that every
> >PBM/PBeM company should be able to write their own paragraph for the FAQ
> >to go with Greg's comments if this is the only source of info.
>
> That's what the PBM List is for; it includes a per-game description. I
> don't see much point behind a per-company blurb.
>
> >I-Net should be kept non-commercial.
>
> Actually there's a whole hierarchy, biz.*, of commercial newsgroups.
> But nobody reads them.  Also, you say you don't pay for posting, but
> you do via your school/employer. Most of us with "free" access pay
> indirectly. (I pay by having to fix the news system when it fills its
> disk up...)
>
> -- greg

Ok, this is my last post on this topic - I promise.

Greg, this isn't personal - I'm just disagreeing with you on a
implementation level.  I want to make that clear that I am NOT "angry", or
"pissed" or whatever - I just don't agree. :)

In the message quoted above you mention the FAQ and the biz commercial
newsgroups.  That's good - I just read the FAQ and in section 10 (or 11 I
forget) about commercial posts you say:

> Other than posting basic information about your game, supporting your
> game on the group is encouraged -- if folks have questions, post and
> answer them. It's only repetitive hype-filled postings, or perhaps
> repetitive answers of the same question, that will tick off
> Usenetters.

So, if I were running a game, according to your own FAQ, I could post --
in a non-hype filled and non-repetitve way (ie, once a month and
tastefully) an information packed "ad" for my game.

The reason I can understand about some people wanting to do this in
ADDITION to the PBM List is because it's more immediate.  In the PBM List
you have to dig through all of them -- however, I am more likely to read
an ad whose title says "New Space Opera PBeM starting" since that's the
kind of game I like playing.

Obviously, we're all agreeing to disagree here -- and I doubt that anyone
will be swayed one way or another.  I didn't plan on posting any more
about this topic (and adding to the noise) but there are some topics that
you just have to get up on your soapbox about. :)

Please remember folks that Greg maintains the FAQ and PBM List because he
WANTS to -- he's doing it out of an altruistic sense for the PBM industry
which I respect.  At the same time he does NOT moderate this group.
Neither do I.  No one posting here moderates this group in fact!

Thanks,
-Greg
xanadu@dnai.com

References

Re: Objections to adverts?
lindahl@deshaw.com (Greg Lindahl)
Tue, 14 May 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Objections to adverts?
Jim McLennan <jmclennan@trashcity.org>
Fri, 10 May 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Objections to adverts?
lepag001@maroon.tc.umn.edu (Garrett R Le-Page)
Tue, 14 May 1996 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Objections to adverts?
lindahl@deshaw.com (Greg Lindahl)
Tue, 14 May 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Objections to adverts?
Jim McLennan <jmclennan@trashcity.org>
Fri, 10 May 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Objections to adverts?
lepag001@maroon.tc.umn.edu (Garrett R Le-Page)
Tue, 14 May 1996 00:00:00 +0000