[FAQ] Introduction to the Furrynet (fur.*) newsgroups
Chris Baird
[Here's an early release of the Furrynet FAQ. Hopefully it will
help those wanting a 'feed. --Chris]
INTRODUCTION TO THE FURRYNET (fur.*) NEWSGROUPS
- Contents -
SECTION 1: Everything you wanted to know about Furrynet but where too much
of a nervous prey species to ask.
1.1) What is Furrynet?
1.2) Furrynet's posting guidelines
1.3) How do I join Furrynet?
1.4) How do I read Furrynet newsgroups?
1.5) How do I post to it?
1.5a) How do I post a binary file?
SECTION 2: About the fur.* newsgroups
2.1) An overview of the Furrynet newsgroups
2.2) What is each newgroup for?
(includes accepted etiquette for certain newsgroups)
2.3) Where can I get the canonical list of newsgroups?
2.4) How can I create a fur.* newsgroup?
SECTION 3: Supporting Services
3.1) Furrynet NNTP servers
SECTION 4: Credits and Thank Yous
==============================================================================
SECTION 1: Everything you wanted to know about Furrynet ...
1.1) What is Furrynet?
The fur.* (furrynet) hierarchy is a set of newsgroups intended to provide
Furry Fandom with message areas that have established policies to severely
reduce the amount of inappropriate traffic that has become an endemic
problem on the larger Usenet.
All going well, it's hoped that the new hierarchy will be able to keep
the attention of all the diverse interests in Furry Fandom.
(NB: Netnews' "Furrynet" shouldn't be confused with the Fidonet "FurNet"
forums.)
1.2) Furrynet's posting guidelines
What makes Furrynet special from most other newsgroup hierarchies is the
"fur-monitor" ("FurBot"?), a computer moderator, that will automatically
and impartially cancel any message that fits the profile of unacceptable
traffic, such as, but not limited to, spamming and trolling.
Such offenders don't generally read FAQs, so it should be safe to reveal
the posting guidelines here...
1. Messages should have their distribution set to "fur".
(That is, include the article header line "Distribution: fur")
1a. For folks using inadequate newsreaders, the word "fur" can be
put in the subject line instead.
2. Furrynet messages can't be crossposted outside of the fur.*
hierarchy.
2a. In the initial stages of the new hierarchy, an exception to the
above rule is allowed if crossposting to the furry-related
newsgroups in Usenet (alt*furry*).
3. Furrynet messages can't be crossposted to more than three groups.
3a. The fur-monitor checks the number of followups too.
Anything the fur-monitor doesn't notice may still be canceled manually if
it's abusive in other ways, such as velvetia ("slow spam"), illegal (ponzi
"MAKE MONEY FAST" schemes, copyright violations), an unwelcome binary
posting to a discussion-only group, grossly inappropriate discussion (i.e:
erotica in the wrong place), or for just being personally abusive.
Furrynet is not part of Usenet and not subject to its guidelines. Sites
that are unwilling to respect its rules will be blocked from participating.
1.3) How do I join Furrynet?
The preferred method is for the netnews administrator at your site to send
mail to fur-c...@taronga.com, with the request being posted to the
newsgroup fur.config. The nearest Furrynet system in your area should then
help arrange a feed.
% There is discussion in progress if Furrynet should demand sites have a
% good anti-spam/abuse policy as a condition of membership.
% "Not only would such a policy help the furry groups remain usable, but
% it would be one more way that customers wanting furry feeds could be made
% aware of the consequences of dealing with an abuse-tolerant provider, and
% hopefully getting them to insist the provider itself to be more
% responsible in dealing with the rest of the net-community." - Tigerwolf
1.4) How do I read Furrynet newsgroups?
If your system administrator can arrange for a Furrynet 'feed, just
continue using your favourite news-reading program.
Unfortunately the preferred method above is not an option for users at many
sites for a lot of reasons. The next best thing then is to configure your
newsreader (that is, if you're using a `modern' one: Netscape, GNUS, what
others?) to browse one of Furrynet's public NNTP sites; see section 3.1 of
this FAQ for a list of systems you can use.
% I may add links here if there's any good on-line docs on using remote
% news-servers with various programs.. -cjb
1.5) How do I post to it?
Again, if you're on a Furrynet site, it's business as usual, BUT PLEASE
MAKE CERTAIN YOU'RE SPEC TO THE ABOVE POSTING GUIDELINES. A good
newsreader will allow you to set the "Distribution: fur" header line, or
if you're stuck with a crappy one, stick the word "fur" somewhere in the
subject line.
1.5a) How do I post a binary file?
*IF* the particular newsgroup permits it... (See section 2.2)
"uuencoding" of binary files is the lowest common denominator and will
certainly be accepted. It's not known if any Furrynet sites are using
ancient netnews software that puts limitations on message size, so Baird
sez just post it as one part-- knock yourself out.
MIME encapsulation using BASE64 encoding is also acceptable, as 100-minus-
epsilon percent of everyone's software handles MIME these days. MIME using
BINHEX (the Mac format for forked files) isn't however recommended because
a lot of software doesn't support it.
==============================================================================
SECTION 2: About the fur.* newsgroups
2.1) An overview of the Furrynet newsgroups
The several important `top level' newsgroups that all of Furrynet depends on:
fur.announce ... Something worth howling to the world
fur.answers .... Frequently asked questions and answers
fur.config ..... Discussions about Furrynet
fur.control .... For Furrynet monitor control messages only
fur.test ....... For testing posts and Furrynet propagation
The following parallel existing Usenet newsgroups:
fur.artwork.misc .. Furry art with inoffensive content
fur.artwork.erotica Furry art with adult themes/situations
fur.lifestyle ..... Being furry in your own life
fur.mucks ......... For discussing all of the furry multi-user
roleplaying environments
fur.misc .......... Random furry discussion not fitting elsewhere
fur.toons ......... Animation and cartoon discussions
...and now some others, just for fun:
fur.artwork.artists .. Art techniques, materials, and media
fur.artwork.discuss .. Criticism, praise, raving fanboys
fur.comics ........... Publications from 'Albedo' to the 'Zoo Crew'
fur.conventions ...... Discussing/Announcing Furfen gatherings
fur.stories.discuss .. Criticism, praise, raving fanfic-fans
fur.stories.erotica .. Furry stories with adult content
fur.stories.misc ..... Furry fictions you could show to your mother
fur.stories.storyboard Online collaborations
fur.stories.writers .. About writing
2.2) What is each newgroup for?
Currently the only newsgroups where infinitely [or even finitely]
large binary files may be posted to are fur.artwork.misc and
fur.artwork.erotica.
% Additional conditions will be included here as Furrynet becomes
% established. (Such if the idea for a "fur.lists.*" sub-hierarchy
% eventuates, this space would mention the policies of particular lists.) -cjb
2.3) Where can I get the canonical list of Furrynet newsgroups?
Post your request to fur.config.
% Short and sweet. As yet there is no ftp or web archive for Furrynet.
2.4) How can I create a fur.* newsgroup?
No formal policies exist yet, but the accepted modus operandi is much the
same as in other netnews hierarchies where the interested should bring the
matter to fur.config and present a good case to the lurking Furrynet Cabal.
For the moment, the final decision to write the "newgroup" message belongs
to Peter da Silva <pe...@taronga.com>, one of Furrynet's original
proponents.
==============================================================================
SECTION 3: Supporting Services
3.1) Furrynet NNTP servers
Known Furrynet NNTP servers as of 16-Nov-1996.
System IP Address Port Comments
------------------------- ---------------- ---- ------------------------------
tau-ceti.isc-br.com 129.189.2.133 119 Public
news.fysh.org 194.159.247.14 119 Public; best for UK and Europe
mow.physik.uni-bremen.de 134.102.188.212 119 Email wolter@mow for access
------------------------- ---------------- ---- ------------------------------
Additions to this list will be most gratefully received!
==============================================================================
SECTION 4: Credits and Thank Yous
Positive contributions to this document have been received from Peter da
Silva <pe...@taronga.com> and TigerWolf <tige...@tigerden.com>, with the
rest written and prepared by Chris Baird <c...@quux.apana.org.au>.
-- "Be Zorch, Daddio" --