2nd RFD: rec.arts.anime reorganization
Stephanie da Silva
unmoderated group rec.arts.anime.fandom
unmoderated group rec.arts.anime.games
unmoderated group rec.arts.anime.music
unmoderated group rec.arts.anime.models
moderated group rec.arts.anime.hentai
unmoderated group rec.arts.anime.misc (renames rec.arts.anime)
moderated group rec.arts.anime.creative (renames rec.arts.anime.stories)
Proposed by: Stephanie da Silva <ari...@taronga.com>
This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the reorganization
of the unmoderated newsgroup, rec.arts.anime.
RATIONALE: all groups
Anime is animation that is produced in Japan for the Japanese market. It
is far more diverse than American animated cartoons and appeals to a wider
cross-section of the community. It has gained an avid following in North
America, and often these fans become extremely interested in the Japanese
culture and language.
This popularity of anime is reflected on the net. There are five anime
related rec.arts.* groups and at least four alt groups devoted to some
faction of anime. There are at least 34 mailing lists, including mail
to news gateways for the rec.arts.anime and rec.arts.manga newsgroups,
lists for popular works like Oh! My Goddess, Bubblegum Crisis, Dirty
Pair, Kimagure Orange Road, Maison Ikkoku, Robotech, Ranma 1/2, and
Sailor Moon, and lists for topics such as the renowned producer Miyazaki,
anime voice artists, fan fiction and fan translation works-in-progress.
North American audiences are gaining more exposure to anime through English
language adaptations of shows like Dragon Ball, Technoman, and Sailor Moon.
This "mainstreaming" is certain to increase its popularity.
The traffic on rec.arts.anime currently averages about 250 articles per
day, and has gone up as high as 330+ articles per day (for example, with
the premier of Sailor Moon in the US/Canadian market this past September).
In a recent discussion about a possible split, some users expressed
concerns that the newsgroup is growing too large and noisy, that smaller
threads are being lost, that the group is losing focus. Some felt that
veteran users were being driven away by the noise. Some r.a.a readers
felt that the high volume might intimidate new users, discouraging them
from reading the newsgroup, and thereby missing out on the collective
knowledge of the genre that the readership of the newsgroup has to offer
and depriving the group of new blood, new ideas and viewpoints.
Spin-offs have been forming in the alt hierarchy, such as the new Sailor
Moon group, alt.fan.sailor-moon. Rec.arts.anime itself was last split
in April, 1993 into the current newsgroup structure. As Usenet continues
to grow, rec.arts.anime should expand to accomodate these changes.
CHARTER: rec.arts.anime.fandom
An unmoderated newsgroup for issues of interest to anime fandom and related
chat, including meta-discussions. Examples:
Which are better, dubs or subs?
Are there any females who watch anime?
How does one pronounce 'anime'?
Why don't anime characters look Asian?
Tezuka's Jungle King vs. Disney's Lion King.
A place for provincial topics and questions.
Examples:
What time does Sailor Moon play in my television viewing area?
Are there any anime clubs/stores/cons in my city?
For conventions reports, anime club concerns, and legal matters.
Discussion of fan artwork, and fan literature. For the organization
of fan translations projects, and discussion of fansub projects
(availability, technology, etc). Advice on the creation and maintenance
of Internet and WWW fan resources, and pointers to the same.
For the discussion of important fan issues, such as starting a fan club,
organizing conventions, editing newsletters and fanzines, etc.
This group should not be used for the trading of fansubs nor for the posting
of binary files. The posting of these articles will be discouraged.
END CHARTER.
CHARTER: rec.arts.anime.games
An unmoderated newsgroup for anime-related video games and RPGs, as well
as related topics such as dealers, compatibility issues between US and
Japanese systems, etc.
A place where gamers may exchange anime game hints, discuss the merits of
commerically available anime video games, and discuss the creation of
card games (such as the Anime War Deck).
Where gamers may organize and discuss anime RPG game adaptations (such
as Lodoss).
For the discussion of anime based MUCKs and MUDs.
END CHARTER.
CHARTER: rec.arts.anime.music
An unmoderated newsgroup for the discussion of anime-related music,
including lyrics, artists, Japanese Pop, available CDs, soundtracks.
translations, etc.
END CHARTER.
CHARTER: rec.arts.anime.models
An unmoderated newsgroup for the discussion of anime models -- plastic
models designed after Japanese animation characters. (An example of
models are the Robotech models, which the game Mechwarrior is based on,
only they are a little more fantastic in design.) Interest in models
is on the increase, but availability is scarce outside of Japan.
This newsgroup would serve as a place for bringing model enthusiasts
together, for sharing information, and for assistance in locating
distributors.
END CHARTER.
CHARTER: rec.arts.anime.hentai
A moderated group for the discussion of adult anime, including the genres
known as Hentai/ecchi/H and "lemon". Adult anime in this context is
defined as having explicitly shown scenes of sexual activity. Some
examples of adult anime are Wandering Kid, Cream Lemon, Rei Rei, and La
Blue Girl.
Hentai is controversial. A separate newsgroup would provide a safe
place for those interested in talking about it without having to deal
with interference from those who disapprove of the topic. Moderation
is indicated to filter out flaming and undesirable sex-oriented ads and
spammers.
END CHARTER.
MODERATOR INFO: rec.arts.anime.hentai
Moderator: mmc...@UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU (Mark D. McKean)
END MODERATOR INFO.
CHARTER: rec.arts.anime.misc
An unmoderated newsgroup for general anime discussion and topics that don't
fall into any of the other categories. This newsgroup would replace the
existing rec.arts.anime newsgroup.
END CHARTER.
CHARTER: rec.arts.anime.creative
This moderated newsgroup would serve as a place for the posting of fan
created works.
For any anime or manga related fan work including stories, parodies,
original scripts written by fans, poems, song lyrics, and original
artwork. Only the actual fan works will be posted here - any discussion
regarding these works should be posted to rec.arts.anime.fandom.
The proposed name change from rec.arts.anime.stories to
rec.arts.anime.creative is being included at the request of the
rec.arts.anime.stories moderator.
END CHARTER.
MODERATOR INFO: rec.arts.anime.creative
Moderator: mega...@world.std.com (Brian Bikowicz)
Request address: anime-dojin...@world.std.com
Submission address: anime-d...@world.std.com
END MODERATOR INFO.
rec.arts.anime.info and rec.arts.anime.marketplace are unaffected by this
proposal and will remain as is.
PROCEDURE:
Discussion will run a minumum of 21 days. The newsgroups in this proposal
are subject to change, and if major changes are necessary, the discussion
period may be extended an additional 7 days.
A Call for Votes (CFV) will be posted after the end of the discussion period.
The vote will be run by a neutral third party.
This RFD attempts to fully comply with Usenet newsgroup creation guidelines
outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup". Please refer to this
document if you have questions about the process.
DISTRIBUTION:
This RFD is being posted to news.announce.newgroups, news.groups,
rec.arts.anime, rec.arts.anime.info, rec.arts.anime.stories, rec.arts.manga,
rec.arts.anime.marketplace, alt.fan.sailor-moon, alt.tv.robotech,
and alt.fan.bgcrisis, with follow-ups set to news.groups. All
discussion regarding this proposal should take place in news.groups only.
--