As many of you know, Pam Greene, Dave Caudill, Kevin Kadow, Dave Richards
and I have been working to get a Usenet based ferret newsgroup
<rec.pets.ferrets> created.  Copies of past iterations of the Request for
Discussion (RFD) have been posted on FML to give it exposure and provide our
fellow FMLers with a reference to use in discussing the pros and cons of
this RFD.  Discussion has taken place in <news.groups> and we've modified
the RFD to reflect the views expressed in that discussion.  A new iteration
of the RFD will be appearing in <res.pets>, <news.groups>,
<news.announce.newgroups> and <alt.pets.ferrets> within the next few days.
Your views are encouraged.  Please follow the thread in the discussion in
<news.groups>.
 
When created,  <rec.pets.ferret> will differ from  <alt.pets.ferret> in
two ways:
 
1.  It will be moderated - All messages coming into the Usenet entry points
for this newsgroup will be screened by a robo-moderation script.  This will
help screen out off-topic messages ( spam and overly cross-posted commercial
ads).  Human moderators will review the rejected messages to make certain
that legitimate messages didn't get blocked by the script.  Any such
messages will be released to the newsgroup and the script will be fine-tuned
to minimize the possibility of further erroneous rejections.  A report of
rejected messages will be posted to the newsgroup at regular intervals.
 
2.  It will be a Usenet newsgroup.  Usenet offers better propagation than
the alt.* heirarchy.  Many internet providers do not carry alt.* heirarchy
newsgroups on their systems.  Most carry Usenet's 'big-8' .
 
A few weeks after the discussion has started, a Call for Votes (CFV) will be
issued, with full instructions on how and where to vote.  In order to pass
muster, we need to get 100 more "yes" votes than "no" votes AND the "yes"
votes must be at least 2/3 of the total VALID votes.
 
This would be easy if not for one thing .  There will be many people out
there voting against the RFD, no matter what it says.  Many have no interest
in ferrets at all.  Some view moderation as censorship.  Some will vote "no"
to any moderated newsgroup because it hampers their efforts to spam.  (Much
of my e-mail in opposition to the RFD was, undoubtedly, from spammers and
their ilk, as their e-mail addresses were bogus.)
 
Whatever their reasons, we need YOUR help in getting the votes.  Please take
the time to view the RFD when it is posted (or on the URL provided below) .
Pass the word on to the few who don't get the FML.  Join in on the
discussion in <news.groups>.
 
With your help, we can make <rec.pet.ferrets> a reality.
 
Thank You,      Roger McMillian
 
website:  http://ferret.chi.il.us/ferret/newsgroup.html
[Posted in FML issue 2197]