REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION
moderated rec.pets.ferrets
This is a formal Request for Discussion (RFD) for the creation of world-wide
moderated Usenet newsgroups in the rec.pets hierarchy. This is not a call
for votes; you cannot vote at this time. Procedural details are below.
Newsgroups line:
rec.pets.ferrets Discussion about domestic ferrets. (Moderated)
RATIONALE: rec.pets.ferrets
Most ferret-related issues are currently discussed in alt.pets.ferrets
(apf). The statistics compiled by one of the proponents indicate that this
group regularly receives more than one thousand articles from approximately
500 posters each week.
However, a disturbing percentage of the traffic on apf consists of off-topic
articles, cross-posted through the alt hierarchy (spamming), and above all,
a regular flow of articles unrelated to the subject matter, ferrets.
This rec.pets group is therefore proposed as a moderated newsgroup where
readers are not subjected to the types of articles described above. The
intention is both to provide a useful resource for inexperienced ferret
owners, and to attract and retain experienced owners and specialists who can
make a substantial contribution to the group.
The current intention is to "robo-moderate" the group using a script, which
shall be overseen by a moderation panel. The moderation panel may, at its
discretion, implement any technical or logistical solutions it considers
necessary to enforce the provisions of this charter.
Further, should it be deemed necessary, the panel may disable or limit the
robo-moderation script and begin moderating the newsgroup entirely by
hand.Moderation is by no means intended to impede freedom of speech, but
rather to help readers make the most of their time by ensuring conformity to
the objectives outlined in the charter.
n the light of experience with the unmoderated apf, moderation is considered
essential to ensure a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio and ensure the
usefullness of the proposed group. Replacing the alt group with a moderated
group in the usenet heirarchy, will give it a wider distribution and allow
the newsgroup to reach more people to whom it would be interesting.
PROCEDURE:
This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase,
potential problems with the proposal should be raised. The discussion will
continue for a minimum of 21 days, starting from the time this RFD is posted
to news.announce.newgroups. After that, a Call For Votes (CFV) may be
posted by a neutral vote taker, if the discussion warrants it. Please do
not attempt to vote until this happens.
CHARTER: rec.pets.ferrets
The group shall be used to discuss various aspects of care for domestic
ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Original postings must contain certain
keywords in their subject header or body. The group shall be robo-moderated
using a "mod-bot" script, which shall be overseen by a moderation panel.
The moderation panel may, at its discretion, implement any technical
solutions it considers necessary to enforce the provisions of this charter,
including disabling all or part of the moderation script and moderating the
group by hand.
The moderation script shall be configured to reject any article:
+ which is cross-posted to more than six newsgroups;
+ which does not contain one of the required keywords
+ which is cross-posted to unrelated newsgroups;
+ which is deemed to contain a binary file. Insofar as it is practical, the
moderation script shall be configured so as to pass PGP signatures and
similar authentication schemes, while rejecting articles containing binary
files;
+ which is deemed to be encoded primarily using a markup scheme, with the
exception of Plain Old Documentation (POD). In so far as it is practicable,
the moderation script shall be configured so as to pass articles containing
short fragments of markup embedded within them;
+ which is deemed to be encoded in any MIME type considered inappropriate by
the moderation panel. Initially, only articles of text/ plain MIME type
will be accepted by the moderation script;
+ which is deemed to contain more quoted than unquoted text. This condition
will not be applied to articles containing fewer than 40 lines of body text,
excluding the signature if one is found. Articles without any unquoted
text, not taking into account the signature if one is present, will be
rejected;
In the context of this charter, a signature is defined as everything found
after the last cut line, i.e. /^-- $/, found in the article. Posters are
requested to make use of such cut lines to delimit their signature from the
article body.
Any article whose primary purpose is the advertisement of a commercial
property, good or service, including job offers and demands, MLMs and MMFs,
shall be off-topic and therefore forbidden in the group. An exception will
be made for any article which is an offer for sale or barter any item
related to the newsgroup (e.g. breeder notices, shelter notices, ferret
food or equipment manufacturers, etc) The moderation panel may at its
discretion implement appropriate technical solutions to ensure that
off-topic articles are not published in the group.
Posters are requested to use informative subject lines, to be concise and to
the point, and to include in their posts any relevant information. The
moderation panel may, at its discretion implement technical measures to
enforce all or part of this provision.
A single copy of any article rejected by the moderation process will be
returned to its author together with a copy of the reason for the rejection.
The moderation panel will consist of no fewer than 2 and no more than 10
members. In the case of a temporary abscence by a member of the moderation
panel, he or she may nominate a replacement for the duration of said
abscence to be approved by the other moderators. If the absence of a
moderator would leave fewer than three remaining members of the panel, the
absent moderator shall make every effort to to nominate such a replacement.
New members may be appointed upon the permanent departure of an existing
member, or as the moderation panel deems appropriate.
With the exception noted in the next paragraph, the moderation panel shall
take all its decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote among its
current members, and formulate and publish additional terms of reference,
including rules of procedure, in accordance with the provisions of this
charter, at its earliest convenience.
The moderation panel may depose one of its members if a motion to this
effect is approved by no fewer than 2/3 of existing members.
The moderation script will be distributed to persons approved by the
moderation panel, solely for the purpose of installing it at the former's
site and injecting articles into their local news server in accordance with
the provisions of this charter.
The moderation panel may gate aproved articles to mailing lists.
All members of the moderation panel shall be authorized to cancel any
article that has not passed through an authorized moderation site.
Any article submitted by a member of the moderation panel outside the
exercise of his or her administrative role will be subject to the full
moderation procedure described herein.
END CHARTER
MODERATOR INFO: rec.pets.ferrets
Moderator: David Caudill <[log in to unmask]
Moderator: Pamela Greene <[log in to unmask]
Moderator: Kevin Kadow <[log in to unmask]
Moderator: Roger McMillian <[log in to unmask]
Submission address: [log in to unmask]
Administrative address: [log in to unmask]
END MODERATOR INFO
DISTRIBUTION:
This RFD has been posted to the following groups:
rec.pets
alt.pets.ferrets
news.groups
news.announce.newgroups
as well as the following mailing lists
Ferret Mailing List
Ferret Forum Mailing List
Proponent: David Caudill <[log in to unmask]
Proponent: Pamela Greene <[log in to unmask]
Proponent: Kevin Kadow <[log in to unmask]
Proponent: Roger McMillian <[log in to unmask]
Proponent: David Richards <[log in to unmask]
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[Posted in FML issue 1949]
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