David Steffen proposes a scheme for high volume newsgroups that reduces
traffic by slowing the propogation of news according to geographical
locations. Let me propose an alternative.
the "sun-managers" mailing list is extremely high volume - how many
sun owners are out there - yet still effective as a communications
path. the secret is that they have removed some of the usual chit-chat
that goes along the normal course of a list and added to the burden
of the person who posts a question.
the rules there (and in some other -managers groups) is that there is
no discussion allowed in the group. Rather, the presenter of a question
is obligated to say
Send me your answers, I will summarize for the group
and then to post an answer (with proper credits) with the word SUMMARY: as
the start of the subject line. This lets the casual reader read just the
condensed summaries of problems, puts the burden on the questioner to act
also as editor, and increases the number of questions and answers that can
be sent through the list.
It's more work but you get better results.
Edward Vielmetti, vice president for research, Msen Inc. emv at Msen.com
Msen Inc., 628 Brooks, Ann Arbor MI 48103 +1 313 741 1120
"We believe in: rough concensus and working code." Dave Clark on the IETF
