From: Alex Fenton <aff28@...>
Date: 2008-09-29T22:24:12+09:00
Subject: Re: SPAM

Trans wrote:
> We need to do something about the SPAM coming through on Usenet.

The spam is slightly irritating. If you're reading this from the mailing 
list, I'd guess there are already plenty of ways you can filter the spam 
out yourself. I expect some filtering could be set up on the gateway, 
but I'm not offering to do it so I won't expect someone else to.

> Question: Is Usenet support necessary any longer? I've heard multiple
> reports of it being dropped by ISPs. -- I really know very little
> about the subject, but I'm just wondering if supporting Usenet is out-
> moded/out-dated? 

No. It's still supported by my ISP (the 2nd largest in the UK, ~4m 
subscribers), and my academic institution.

> Perhaps the more precise question to ask is: Does
> anyone actually need Usenet in order to interact with the mailing
> list?

No-one *actually needs* it. For that matter, we don't need the mailing 
list either; we could just have a web forum. With built-in emoticons :)

But Usenet is, to me, a much preferable way to interact with this group. 
A high volume list works better as a "pull" technology (Usenet/Web) than 
a "push" one (Email), IMO.

a