From: no@spam.com 
  
 On Wed, 19 May 2004 10:42:37 -0230, "Terry"  
 wrote: 
  
 >I have been observing this 'Canadian Consumer' news group for some time and 
 >have occasionally posted items with consumer content e.g. My most recent; 
 >"What can happen when one wants to change the credit limit on some credit 
 >cards". 
 >On most effective news groups such an item will often engender discussion 
 >and/or agreement/disagreement which is informative to all readers whether 
 >they agree with the poster or not and often provides further information. 
 >Occasionally too people will 'rant' or complain about some aspect of 
 >consumer matters and less often again people will sometimes get into 
 >personal 'slanging matches' and outright personal abuse. That's like life in 
 >general. 
 >But in an affectively used group this usually quickly subsides as the more 
 >sensible ignore or filter it out. 
 >But this news group, for a long time now, has little to no SENSIBLE content 
 >or discussion. 
 >The current content posted here is an absolute disgrace. It appears to be 
 >nothing more that an untidy bulletin board for spam and advertising! 
 >As a Canadian I am ashamed of it. As such a receptacle it is merely 
 >comprising one more  'trash' container for the high amount of web-network 
 >junk. 
 >I do access 'other' consumer newsgroups and yes there is a spam and non 
 >related content, but not to the high percentage here! 
 >I respectfully and strongly suggest that if this group is not being 
 >'managed' (I know it is not a 'moderated' group) to provide some useful 
 >purpose, it be ELIMINATED. 
 >Hosting this must be costing someone time, computer capacity and money? 
 >Can it be justified. 
 >Terry 
 > 
  
 Terry (and anyone else who may be listening): 
  
 I agree that this newsgroup is under-utilized to an alarming degree. 
 However, I must disagree with many of your other statements. 
  
 First of all, once a newsgroup is started, it is just about impossible 
 to get rid of it.  My ISP currently carries over 77000 newsgroups, 
 many of which have had little or no on-topic traffic since they were 
 created (alt.fan.amy-fisher is a good example, but there are hundreds 
 of others).  The reason they are still around is that they cost no 
 time, computer capacity or money if no one posts messages to them (and 
 an infinitesimally small amount of computer capacity and money if only 
 a few people post to them). 
  
 Secondly, I monitor other newsgroups and the amount of spam and 
 off-topic posts in can.consumers is EXTREMELY small compared to other 
 newsgroups.  It only appears large in comparison to the EXTREMEMLY 
 small number of on-topic posts.  In general it is pretty easy to 
 separate the legitimate posts from the advertising and off-topic 
 posts.  It is not nearly so easy on other groups (like say 
 misc.consumers).  In general, the more popular a newsgroup is, the 
 more likely it will be a target for spammers and other off-topic 
 posters. 
  
 Thirdly, I don't think discussion threads that deteriorate into rants 
 and name calling contests do anything to add to the usefulness of a 
 newsgroup.  I used to monitor the can.taxes newsgroup but I don't any 
 longer.  Not because it is under-used, but just the opposite.  For 
 every legitimate post on Canadian tax issues, there are 50 posts by 
 detaxers (people who feel they don't need for pay taxes for dubious 
 legal/moral reasons) just looking for arguments (and someone is always 
 willing to take the bait).  Basically they've hijacked the newsgroup 
 and keep if from being used for it's intended purpose. 
  
 In conclusion then, I agree that can.consumers is not being used to 
 it's full potential.  If it is eliminated (assuming that were even 
 possible) it will NEVER be used to it's full potential.  Here are some 
 suggestions for improving the situation: 
  
 1) Post some messages at other newsgroups where people concerned about 
 Canadian consumer issues might be lurking (misc.consumers, 
 can.politics, can.taxes, etc) and tell/remind them that this newsgroup 
 exists. 
  
 2) Many users new to the internet only know web-browsers and email. 
 They are completely unaware of the amazing resource that exists called 
 newsgroups.  I'm not sure how these people can be reached (perhaps a 
 website pointing them to the newsgroup?) but that's probably the best 
 chance for increasing the viability of this newsgroup. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)