From: tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca 
  
 Patrick Coghlan wrote: 
 > 
 > I'm the original sponsor of this newsgroup (circa 1995). 
 > 
 > There certainly does seem to be a lot of trash postings that other 
 > unmoderated groups don't seem to have. 
 > 
 > I'll look into a way to keep the trash out, as other groups have done. 
 > 
 > Terry wrote: 
 > > I understand that this is a news group that is not moderated; 
 > > i.e. it appears there is no one acting as a chair-person as it 
 > > were and ruling 'Out of Order' the predominant spam and 
 > > advertising. 
 > > I have therefore basically given up on this news group, visiting 
 > > it rarely. Which of course means that 'spammers' and 
 > > 'advertisers' are achieving nothing! 
 > > Several times over the last year or so I have done a quick count 
 > > of 'ON TOPIC' postings versus spam/advertising. Unfortunately the 
 > > unnecessary stuff runs ten to one to individual Canadian Consumer 
 > > postings. 
 > > Also I doubt the spammers/advertisers rarely if ever read this 
 > > news group; to them it probably just cheap advertising? 
 > > Can anyone help me to contact whoever 'hosts' and is paying for 
 > > the facilities that provide this ng? Do THEY ever read it and see 
 > > what has been happening? 
 > > It could be so much more useful to Canadian Consumers; because 
 > > there are similar and Canadian ones at that, news groups (which I 
 > > will not name) which are successful and which do not tolerate a 
 > > 'take-over' by the spam/porn/quick-buck/snake-oil enterprisers! 
 > > Such as has happened here. 
 > > Anyone agree/disagree with this? Terry. 
  
 Terry again on Dec 19th. 
 Thank you Patrick; no insult intended but I have quite sincerely 
 'given up' on < can.consumers >, several times; because of all 
 the junk/spam etc. 
 Whereas, for example the < uk.people.consumers > is reasonably 
 active with various discussions about minor incidents and major 
 issues, of concern, or which are raised by typical consumers, 
 like myself. 
 Many thanks for your follow up and comment to my concern. 
 There are two news groups in 'our neck of the woods' for which 
 the sponsors (the local university) are quite 'tough'. For 
 example, on one, a person advertising once or twice over a period 
 of time about hand knitted socks, the availability of a single 
 used dining room table or "baby things" etc. is OK. 
 But if the local GMC dealer or a 'Viagra pusher' tries to muscle 
 in they get blocked or deleted! To a chorus of posters 
 complaints, along the lines of "Get outta here". 
 Another news group (designated "General" or discussion) is 
 lenient about opinions expressed, no matter how outrageous, or 
 even personally insulting, at times. But again, 'advertising' 
 which has sneaked in, on occasion, is severely criticized and 
 we've seen instances where a poster has apologized to the rest of 
 the news group posters "Oops, sorry didn't realize I couldn't 
 advertise my recycled tyres business here etc.". 
 So again thanks for your attention. Greetings for the New Year to 
 all. Terry. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)