Disclaimer: Everything written by robin-of-lox in the "Welcome to alt.discuss" articles are my own personal opinion. They may or may not be the opinion of WebTV, and nothing written here has any "official sanction" from WebTV Networks.

NEWS FLASH

There have been some major changes to the Newsgroup Creation and Voting Rules for alt.discuss.

Here are the highlights:

1. One proposal per webtv box per month.
2. 60 days to gather votes, down from 90 days.
3. Automatic deletion of a group if no new posts for 30 days.

For the complete alt.discuss Newsgroup Creation and Voting Rules, go here or to Anthony S's Voting Info or to Penryn's Newsgroups HOME or you can find them posted by nobody@vote.munitions.com and re-posted by Javelin in news:alt.discuss.config

NEWSGROUP BASICS

If you have never been to the alt.discuss newsgroups, you can find out How To Get There in the June 98 issue of ClubWebTV.

FLAMES:

A flame is an inflammatory post usually aimed at a specific individual. Flames are common in Newsgroups. Usually they are on purpose, but sometimes people flame without even realizing it.

Check the Clubwebtv Archive under Newsgroup Tips #10 for a good explanation of Flaming

Here are two sections of the Terms Of Service, relating to behavior on the net. For the complete Terms Of Service (which you agree to every time you turn on your box) go to your Home Page, click on "Using WebTV" on the sidebar, and select Terms Of Service at the bottom of the list. The TOS gets updated every so often, so it's worth checking occasionally.

Terms Of Service 4.1 & 4.2 Disallowed Behaviors

4.1 Network Conduct and Proper Language. Conduct on the WebTV Network and throughout the Internet should conform with public standards of decency and decorum, right of quiet enjoyment and current "netiquette" standards. You agree to conform to such standards and to insure that all Secondary Users similarly refrain from engaging in any disallowed behavior, inappropriate or unauthorized uses or from using the WebTV Network in any manner that does or would have the tendency to disrupt the normal use of the WebTV Network or the Internet by other users. Both the WebTV Network and the Internet in general contain areas such as forums, bulletin boards, chat rooms, news groups or other message and communication facilities (collectively, "Forums") that put people in touch with each other, generally for a specific purpose. Access to such Forums and the ability to "Chat" have been provided by WNI as a privilege. If you participate in any such Forum, you agree to review and abide by the rules of that specific Forum and to only send messages and material in a manner and form that are proper, which are related to the purpose of that particular Forum, and which do not disrupt the group or, in any other way, violate these Terms. You acknowledge that all such Forums are public, so that any communication that you transmit is not a private communication and that such Forums may not be monitored, screened or approved by WNI. Further, in the event that your usage of any Forum results in complaints to WNI regarding your behavior, your privilege to use Chat may be suspended or denied by WNI, at its sole discretion, for any period of time, with or without prior warning or notice.

4.2 Disallowed Behavior. No user may disrupt, harass, abuse, stalk, defame, embarrass, threaten, impersonate, cause discomfort to or become offensive to or otherwise violate the legal rights (including rights of privacy and publicity) of any person or Forum using the WebTV Network or the Internet. Vulgarity, profanity or adult material within e-mail or greeting cards to other people (who are not personally known to you or who do not specifically consent to such messages), chat groups, Forums or within user e-mail names is not permitted. Users shall not publish, post, distribute or disseminate any defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful material or information. There shall be no advertising to, solicitation of or stalking of other users. WNI reserves the right to prohibit the use of any user e-mail name and/or to make changes to any user e-mail name as WNI, in its sole discretion, requires. For additional information about the handling of information relating to abusive behavior, please see the WebTV Network Privacy Policy on the corporate web site at: http://www.webtv.net/tv/privacy.html (or, if you have not registered yet, posted at the end of these Terms).

Well, now that you've read the heavy stuff, take The Flame Quiz for a lighter side to all this. You might be surprised at your score!

THE HIERARCHY

How To Propose A Group & How To Get Votes For It:

You are now only allowed ONE proposal per webtv box (not per user) per month.

PROPOSING:

You have a great idea for a news:alt.discuss group. You have looked through the lists and found that yours is an original idea. So now what do you do?

First, read the Newsgroup Proposing and Voting Rules. They can be found in alt.discuss.config, posted by nobody@advote.munitions.com and re-posted by Javelin, or on Anthony S's page where they are archived, or at Penryn's Newsgroups HOME. or here.

Then, post your INTENTION to news:alt.discuss.config and read the suggestions you receive. Explain in the INTENTION the concept of the group, and it's purpose. Stating that "I want this group" is not a valid explanation. Read last month's column for information on the naming process.

After a day or two of suggestions you are ready to propose. Follow the Rules and remember, it is an automated system and it is DUMB. Any typos will either nullify the proposal or give you a mis-spelled name, so double check it before you hit the "send" button.

Place a short charter or explanation of the group in the body of the proposal e-mail. This will guarantee you more votes.

SOLITICING VOTES:

Once your proposal has been sent, it will then come up the next day in alt.discuss.config and alt.discuss.announce. When you see that, then it's time to gather votes. You have 60 days to get 50 more "yes" votes than "no" votes. How does one campaign in the newsgroups? With thought and consideration.

There are a number of ways to get votes. I will list them in the order of best to worst ideas.

1) E-mail all your WebTV friends asking them to vote. Include this information in your letter: Send the vote to advotes@vote.munitions.com. Tell them to place in the Subject line VOTE YES ALT.DISCUSS.GROUP-NAME and explain to them that any variation will disqualify the vote. There must be a space before and after "yes". It doesn't matter if it is caps or lower-case.

2) Place a mention of the "call for votes" in your signature. This way, every time you post or send e-mail to a WebTVer they will see your vote request.

3) Post in other RELATED alt.discuss newsgroups that you normally post in. Make sure you post requesting votes in alt.discuss.announce, as that is one of the purposes of that group. DO NOT post in _every_ group. That is considered very rude and will get you many "no" votes.

4) Voting buttons are frowned upon by most of the alt.discuss community.

Remember, computer users _cannot_ vote for an alt.discus group. Since the groups are behind the WebTV Firewall, only WebTVers can vote.

THE GROUPS

This month we will look at a couple of different types of groups. One section might best be called "Release" groups, where you can laugh, cry, yell, etc. The others might be described as "Hobby" groups.

Within the "Release" groups are the Flame groups. Though flaming is normally frowned upon, when a group is set up and dedicated for it, flaming can be a great way to let off some steam. The flames are kept strictly within the flame groups, and at no time is it recommended or tolerated to flame anyone in a normal newsgroup.

RELEASE:

.autobiography ..... A place to talk about yourself.

.confessions ..... A place to cleanse your soul (no, there is no way to get absolvement here).

.flame ..... A group for flaming.

.flammin.mames ..... A group for flaming.

.gripe ..... A place to complain about anything.

.humor ..... Jokes, funny stores, etc.

.katzenjammer ..... The original flame group in the webtv firewalled groups.

.nonsense ..... Nonsense, silliness and foolishness. If you are in the mood to giggle, check this one out.

HOBBY:

.autoperformance ..... This group is empty at this time, if you post about the subject others will probably follow.

.beaniebabies.buy.sell.trade ..... Discussion about Beanie Babies.

.cars ..... Current and classic.

.collecting.antiques ..... For antique collectors

.comics ...... for collectors and readers of comic books.

.cooking ..... Tips, recipes and suggestions.

.cooking.diet ..... Recipes and weight control.

.gambling ..... Discussion about gambling (empty).

.gambling.casino ..... Discussion of casino gambling (very active).

.games.cards.magic ..... For players of the card game/rpg Magic, and other RPG card games.

.hobbies.clothdoll-making ..... For those who make cloth dolls.

.hobbies.gardening ..... Tips and discussion on gardening.

.hobbies.modelrailroad ..... Talk about model rail -roading.

.home.cooking ..... Recipes, tips, cooking info.

.knitting ..... For those who knit and sew and quilt and crochet, etc.

.radiolisteners ..... Short wave, CBs, etc.

.rpg ..... Discussion about various role playing games.

.videogames ...... Talk about the different games and the different systems to play them on.

.videogames.playstation ..... Discussion of the different games available to play on the Sony Playstation.

HISTORY

In the beginning there was WebTV. WebTV had subscribers, and so one day WebTV said "Let us make a moderated newsgroup where the users can congregate and talk about WebTV", and so they did, calling it webtv.usersand it was good.

But, the subscribers wanted to talk about more than just WebTV. Theywanted a place for chit-chat and discussion of life in general. WebTV heard the cries of their subscribers and said "Let us make a social group for the users, so that webtv.users can remain the place to talk about WebTV". And so they created webtv.talk. And it too was good.

The subscribers talked about general stuff in dot talk (what the group became known as) and praised WebTV in the webtv.users group. Life was good.

Then, something unexpected happened. More and more people started coming to the groups. Differences of opinion started being posted, and flames broke out in dot talk. Many people left the security of webtv's firewalled dot talk for the promised land of usenet. Some took over empty groups in alt., others co-mingled with computer users.

Dot talk got hotter and hotter. Finally, someone posted pornography, and WebTV shut the group down.

The people cried and moaned, and WebTV again heard them. An intercessor between WebTV and the people was provided, WebTV's Usenet Honcho DMack. Not wanting a repeat of dot talk, a newsgroup system was set up independent from, but with the blessing of WebTV. The groups were called "w", and the rest is known history.

PICK OF THE MONTH

Well, since this is my column, I guess I'll tell you about my favorite newsgroup in alt.discuss. It is news:alt.discuss.openmind. This group is about anything paranormal, alternate spiritualities, Y2K, new-age, etc. The Charter/FAQ explains more about it than I have room for here.

It's a friendly group, not too big, not too small. At times it seems very quiet, at others there is great activity. Apparently more people lurk there than post, but that's OK. The regulars are usually quite accepting of new posters (unless of course someone comes in and flames us right off the bat) and there is a wealth of information to be gotten in this group.

Most of the people who have been "drawn" to this group have found a comfortable home there, We invite you to come and read, and then post if it is your cup-of-tea.

Q&A

Q: Is there a limit to how many alt.disscus newsgroups I can post to? Is there a limit to how many posts I can submit in one day?

A: No, there are no limits. If you want to post in one newsgroup or in a dozen or more, it is your choice.

You may also post as many responses as you like. However, there is something called FLOODING which is where one person submits numerous posts that disrupt the NG (newsgroup). Some groups this works in (ie:alt.discuss.mod.internet) but in others it breaks up the flow of conversation.

robin-of-lox is not an employee of WebTV, but an owner/user who has been online since August '97. She has built two newsgroups from scratch, and is very active in the alt.discuss.config newsgroup. She is a member of WebTV Experts, her expertise being the alt.discuss hierarchy and procedures.