Hierarchy Charters for uk.*

[Charles Lindsey]

Archive-name: uk/hierarchy
Posting-frequency: bi-monthly
Last-modified: Thu Nov 8 23:39:43 GMT 2018

This document was accepted by the Fast-track method in February 1996.

The status of the document is that it is definitive as regards the wording
of the individual charters, but advisory so far as the introductory section
and the last section (on the status of the existing top-level groups) are
concerned. Charters for new hierarchies (or revisions to these ones) that
are accepted according to the usual Guidelines will automatically be
incorporated. The document is posted periodically to uk.net.news.announce,
and can also be found at <http://www.usenet.org.uk/hierarchy.html> from
which links to the charters for the individual groups can be found.


UK Hierarchy Charters
=====================


================================

Subject: Introduction

This FAQ aims to set out the structure of the uk.* hierarchy by providing a
Charter for each of its main branches. Proposers of new groups should study
them carefully to see where their proposal would best fit. Totally new
branches should only be proposed where there is a very clear need, in which
case consideration also needs to be given to what else the new branch might
encompass in the future.

Note, however, that once a specific group has been formed, its own charter
is definitive for that group.

==============================

Subject: Recent Changes

Wed Dec 27 22:36:29 GMT 2000 uk.current-events.* [extending groups]
Wed Feb 28 11:51:14 GMT 2001 Agreed change to uk.org.*
Sun Jun 9 19:09:22 BST 2002 "programme" misspelt
==============================

Subject: Table of Contents

1. uk.adverts.*
2. uk.announce.*
3. uk.business.*
4. uk.community.*
5. uk.comp.*
6. uk.culture.*
7. uk.current-events.*
8. uk.education.*
9. uk.environment.*
10. uk.finance.*
11. uk.food+drink.*
12. uk.games.*
13. uk.gov.*
14. uk.jobs.*
15. uk.local.*
16. uk.media.*
17. uk.misc.*
18. uk.music.*
19. uk.net.*
20. uk.org.*
21. uk.people.*
22. uk.philosophy.*
23. uk.politics.*
24. uk.rec.*
25. uk.religion.*
26. uk.sci.*
27. uk.sport.*
28. uk.tech.*
29. uk.telecom.*
30. uk.transport.*
31. Top-level groups

==============================

Subject: 1. uk.adverts.*

For goods or services offered or wanted. These are UK newsgroups and should
not be used by anyone attempting to sell to or buy from any other countries
than those in the UK.

==============================

Subject: 2. uk.announce.*

A hierarchy for announcing news and events of specific interest to the UK
readership, particularly to a wider audience than the readership of the
newsgroups in which their subjects would naturally place them.

Note, however, that announcements specifically relating to the operation of
Usenet News belong in uk.net.news.announce.

==============================

Subject: 3. uk.business.*

A hierarchy for the discussion of commercial activities of all sorts, and a
forum where people with common business interests can exchange views.

==============================

Subject: 4. uk.community.*

A hierarchy for the discussion of activities intended for the benefit of
the community at large. Such activites will typically be sponsored by
local government, quangos, voluntary bodies, or charities.

==============================

Subject: 5. uk.comp.*

This hierarchy is for UK-related issues concerning computers. It is not
intended to duplicate the function of the worldwide comp.* hierarchy.

==============================

Subject: 6. uk.culture.*

This hierarchy is for the discussion of all aspects of culture in and of the
UK, including its understanding, appreciation, practise and promotion. The
term "culture" encompasses customs, activities, objects, performances and
displays which have aesthetic merit, or which manifest our heritage and
civilisation. It also includes the work of organizations which seek to display
and promote all such cultural activities.

Please note that there may be other more appropriate hierarchies for specific
examples of culture, for example uk.media.*, uk.music.*, and uk.rec.*; groups
for the discussion of 'lifestyles' or 'sub-cultures' will usually be more
appropriately placed in uk.people.*.

==============================

Subject: 7. uk.current-events.*

uk.current-events.* is the hierachy where newsgroups to discuss events in
the news in the 'Real World' can be formed. Note that in certain instances
a group in uk.politics.* may be more appropriate -
'uk.current-events.labouvative-party-split' could be better as
'uk.politics.labouvative-party-split'. In exceptional circumstances, such
as (hypothetically) 'The Great Salford Earthquake of June 31st 2010'
con...@usenet.org.uk, on behalf of comm...@usenet.org.uk, is empowered
to create a newsgroup in this hierarchy instantly, bypassing the minimum
10 day discussion period outlined in the Guidelines For Group Creation;
any newsgroup created in this manner shall be automatically removed after
30 days UNLESS (a) a formal RFD has in the meantime been submitted in
order to make it permanent, or (b) Control, on behalf of the Committee
decides, due to continued interest, to delay the rmgroup up to a maximum
of 180 days.

==============================

Subject: 8. uk.education.*

A hierarchy for all education issues and/or training issues and for the
teaching profession and students.

==============================

Subject: 9. uk.environment.*

A hierarchy for the discussion of the environment, natural and man-made, in
which we live. Topics could include its ecological balance, its resources and
their use or abuse, the disruption and pollution caused by human activity, the
raising of public awareness, and measures for its conservation, and
management.

Strictly scientific matters should be discussed in a sci.* or uk.sci.* group,
recreational use of the environment should be discussed under uk.rec.*, and
government activities affecting the environment should be discussed in
uk.politics.environment.


==============================

Subject: 10. uk.finance.*

uk.finance.* is a hierarchy for groups which discuss personal and commercial
finance issues such as borrowing and lending, credit and debt, making
investments and raising capital.

==============================

Subject: 11. uk.food+drink.*

A hierarchy for the discussion of all aspects of food and drink, including
manufacture, marketing, preparation and enjoyment.

==============================

Subject: 12. uk.games.*

For the discussion of board games, card games, and other such activities
with an intellectual content. Note that ball games and other such physical
activities belong more properly under uk.rec.* or uk.sport.*.

==============================

Subject: 13. uk.gov.*

Groups for the discussion of all aspects of local and central government
agencies, departments and organisations, both from the viewpoint of the
relevant agency, department or organisation and from the viewpoint of it's
customers.

Groups can be created to discuss general aspects of such bodies, and group
boundaries need not conform to departmental boundaries.

Groups within this hierarchy are for the discussion of the operation and
policy of the Body concerned, discussions relating to Government policy ought
to take place in the relevant uk.politics.* group, where such group exists.
Each group charter should include this restriction.

Groups within this hierarchy are not government owned, nor are they government
moderated, and the fact that this is the case should appear in the group
charters.

==============================

Subject: 14. uk.jobs.*

For employment opportunities offered or wanted. These are UK newsgroups and
should only be used in relation to employment within the UK, or by UK-based
companies.

==============================

Subject: 15. uk.local.*

The hierarchy is for groups to discuss issues and announce events
related to recognised and identifiable locations and regions within
the United Kingdom, or in territories closely associated with it.
Groups will be created in the form: uk.local.<area-name> or in the
form: uk.local.<area-name>.<subcategory>. <area-name> is the area to
be covered by the group (and <subcategory> can be used or extended as
necessary). The <area-name> shall be that which is in everyday usage
or an alias that is commonly understood.

Other, more suitable, hierarchies shall be used for fictional,
imaginary or virtual locations."

Messages posted to groups in this hierarchy must not be cross-posted to more
than a TOTAL of four uk.local.* newsgroups; these may be geographically
adjacent or overlapping, or connected by the subject of the post (e.g. "moving
house from Manchester to Birmingham").

Note that the advertising of widely-available goods or services is *not*
relevant in this context, and that most uk.local.* groups have restrictions on
advertising, or prohibit it. Cross-posted adverts, where allowed, must meet
the requirements of the charters of *all* groups involved.

A paragraph to this effect, must be included in any future charter for a group
in this hierarchy.



==============================

Subject: 16. uk.media.*

'Media' includes radio, television, cinema, newspapers, books and all
other such publicly distributed or broadcast means of communication
(with the general exception of computer communications more properly
covered within uk.net.*).

There is a group template charter to enable temporary groups to be created
without the full RFD procedure.

Group Template Charter: uk.media.tv.* and uk.media.radio.*

Group Definition
Any programme or series currently being broadcast, or scheduled to be
broadcast within the two months following the request, on any
terrestrial, cable or satellite channel receivable within the UK.

Conditions
Any proponents wishing to create a TV or radio group using the
"Group Template" option must satisfy the following conditions:

1. The programme shall fall within the "Group Definition".
2. A further 11-20 potential newsgroup users shall provide their
names and valid email addresses for listing in the posting, by
Control, to uk.net.news.announce, uk.net.news.config and uk.media
as well as uk.media.tv.misc or uk.media.radio.misc as appropriate.
3. The normally accepted full name of the programme shall be
used in the newsgroup name and shall be hyphenated if necessary
(e.g. big-brother).
4. The group charter shall be the following in full:

Charter Template

Newsgroups line:
uk.media.tv.<programme-name> The TV programme <programme-name>
OR
uk.media.radio.<programme-name> The Radio programme <programme-name>

Charter for unmoderated group uk.media.<tv/radio>.<programme-name>
uk.media.<tv/radio>.<programme-name> is for the discussion of all
aspects of the programme <programme-name> currently broadcast on
<channel(s)>.

This group shall be rmgrouped after 120 days unless in the meantime
an RFD has been proposed to make it permanent, with an appropriate
permanent charter. Any RFD that proposes to make the group permanent
must have applied for a vote taker or fast track by the 120th day
in which case the removal of the group shall be postponed pending the
outcome. If either of these fails the rmgroup shall be issued. Control
should post a message to the group after approximately 90 days to
remind them of this. An announcement of the rmgroup should be posted to
uk.net.news.announce.

Advertising

Advertising is forbidden.

Binaries And Formatting

Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.), are
*forbidden*, except for cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP). Binaries
belong on a web or ftp site, whose URL may be posted.

Posts must be in plain text. To see how to make your newsreader
comply with this, read <http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.

Warning

Anyone posting advertisements, binaries or other material contrary
to this charter may be reported to their ISP or postmaster.

Quick Group Creation Request

A request for a newsgroup should be emailed to con...@usenet.org.uk
with the wording:
"Request for quick creation:

We request creation of a newsgroup for <program-name> in accordance
with the Charter Template for uk.media.<tv/radio>.* groups"

and a list of 12-21 supporters with valid email addresses.

==============================

Subject: 17. uk.misc.*

No groups shall be created under uk.misc.*.
I.e. there is no such hierarchy.

==============================

Subject: 18. uk.music.*

For discussion of all kinds of music.

==============================

Subject: 19. uk.net.*

For discussion of computer networks within the UK, notably (but not limited
to) the internet.

uk.net.news.*
This is an important sub-hierarchy for the discussion of Usenet News.

==============================

Subject: 20. uk.org.*

This hierarchy is provided as a service to organisations with a widespread
membership. It can be used as a channel of communication to/from their
members, or to exhibit their aims/concerns/activities to a wider
audience. It can also be used to facilitate communication between the members
themselves.

Groups may be created in this hierarchy to discuss matters common
to broad classes of organisations, with groups for individual
organisations of the class in a sub-hierarchy below those groups.

It is to be understood that groups to discuss specific organisations
will not be created in this hierarchy contrary to the wishes of the
organisation itself.

==============================

Subject: 21. uk.people.*

For discussions with and amongst groups of people who have common
lifestyles, social situations or difficulties. By way of example,
these could include ethnic groupings, the unemployed and various kinds of
disability, but not cases for which there exist more appropriate
hierarchies, such as common occupations, religious affiliations or
recreations.

==============================

Subject: 22. uk.philosophy.*

uk.philosophy.* is a hierarchy for groups which discuss :-
a, the pursuit of wisdom;
b, the search for a general understanding of values and reality
by chiefly speculative rather than observational means;
c, the grounds of, and concepts expressing, fundamental beliefs.

==============================

Subject: 23. uk.politics.*

Politics is "the art of the possible". Although party politics will clearly
tend to dominate, this hierarchy is intended for the discussion of the
policies of all agencies, official or otherwise, which are in a position to
influence the way things are done.

==============================

Subject: 24. uk.rec.*

This hierarchy covers activities which people do mainly for the purpose
of recreation. Nevertheless, discussion may be expected at all levels
of expertise, both professional and amateur, and may include both
utilitarian and recreational aspects of the subject. It is not always
helpful to set up separate groups for these aspects and thus the
placement of many topics within this category may be seen (especially
with hindsight) as being somewhat arbitrary.

See, therefore, the remarks under uk.transport.*.

See also uk.games.*.

uk.rec.cars.*

This is an important sub-hierarchy of uk.rec.*, with its own sub-charter:

For the discussion of the technicalities and usage of cars within
the UK. Although such usage will mostly be of a recreational nature,
discussion of non-recreational usage is not forbidden. Groups may exist
under this hierarchy for different types of car (classic, sports, etc.)
and for different activities involving cars (maintenance, etc.)
and for different makes or models.

Note that motorcycles should be discussed under uk.rec.motorcycles,
rallying, hill climbing and the like should be discussed under
uk.rec.motorsport.*, and commercial operations and matters of transport
policy should be discussed under uk.transport.*.

==============================

Subject: 25. uk.religion.*

For the discussion of UK-related aspects of various religions.

==============================

Subject: 26. uk.sci.*

For the discussion of all matters scientific with a specifically UK content.

Note that matters strictly technological should use uk.tech.*.

==============================

Subject: 27. uk.sport.*

This hierarchy is for the discussion of any sports within the UK.

uk.sport.football.*

This is an important sub-hierarchy of uk.sport.*, with its own sub-charter.
Moreover, there is a group template charter to enable such groups to
be created without the full RFD procedure.

Within the UK the word "football" normally means association football, i.e.
"soccer", and groups created under this sub-hierarchy will generally be
presumed to be for the discussion of association football only.
Exceptionally, groups for other codes of football MAY be included in this
sub-hierarchy, provided their names and charters make this absolutely clear.

Groups to discuss specific football clubs should come under a
uk.sport.football.clubs.* sub-hierarchy.

Group Template Charter: uk.sport.football.clubs.*

Note
Any proponent wishing to deviate from this template for the newsgroup
they wish to create is free to do so under the normal RFD process.

Group Definition
All football clubs that are members of:
1 England: Football Association Premiership and Football League
Div 1-3
2 Scotland: Scottish Football Association Premiership and Scottish
Football League Div 1-3

Conditions
Any proponents wishing to create a football club group using the
"Group Template" option must satisfy the following conditions:

1. The football club shall fall within the "Group Definition".
2. A further 11-20 potential newsgroup users shall provide their
names and valid email addresses for listing in the posting, by
Control, to uk.net.news.announce, uk.net.news.config and
uk.sport.football.

3. The normally accepted full name of the football club shall be
used in the newsgroup name and shall be hyphenated if necessary
(e.g. tottenham-hotspur, derby-county).
4. If using the full name of the club causes the newsgroup line
length to be exceeded then the proponent may use a common
abbreviation to fix the problem. In the event of any dispute, the
Committee shall be the final arbiters.
5. The group charter shall be the following in full:

Charter Template

Newsgroups line:
uk.sport.football.clubs.<club-name> <Club Name> FC

Charter for unmoderated group uk.sport.football.clubs.<club-name>

uk.sport.football.clubs.<club-name> is for the discussion of all
<Club Name> Football Club related topics. Advocacy of other clubs
should take place within uk.sport.football.

Advertising

Advertising is forbidden, with these exceptions:

Suppliers of goods and services particularly relevant to <Club Name>
Football Club may post, not more than once every 3 months, an
invitation of four lines or fewer, to visit their web site or request
details. The subject line should begin: "ADVERT: ".

Binaries And Formatting

Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.), are
*forbidden*, except for cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP). Binaries
belong on a web or ftp site, whose URL may be posted.

Posts must be in plain text. To see how to make your newsreader
comply with this, read <http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.

Crossposting

Crossposting is strictly forbidden with the following exception:
Crossposting to one other group in uk.sport.football.clubs.* is
permitted for topics of common interest such as transfer speculation
and forthcoming matches.

Warning

Anyone posting advertisements, binaries or other material contrary
to this charter may be reported to their ISP or postmaster without
further warning after their first offence.

Quick Group Creation Request

A request for a newsgroup should be emailed to con...@usenet.org.uk
with the wording:
"Request for quick creation:

We request creation of a newsgroup for <Club Name> FC in accordance
with the Charter Template for uk.sport.football.clubs.* groups"

and a list of 12-21 supporters with valid email addresses.

==============================

Subject: 28. uk.tech.*

This hierarchy is concerned with all aspects of technology and its
applications within the UK including, in addition to purely technical matters,
its history, the means of provision to its users, and the political and
legislative climate governing its use.

Note that computer and transport technologies are excluded since there already
exist the uk.comp.* and uk.transport.* hierarchies, and matters strictly
scientific should use uk.sci.*.

==============================

Subject: 29. uk.telecom.*

This hierarchy is for the discussion of telecommunications as they relate to
the UK including, in addition to purely technical matters, the services
provided to their users, and the political and legislative climate governing
their use.

==============================

Subject: 30. uk.transport.*

This hierarchy is concerned with all aspects of transport, including its
technology, its history, its operating companies, its environment, as well
as mundane issues of getting from A to B. Where a particular mode of
transport is more often recreational than otherwise (e.g. canals and
cycling) it may possibly be better off under uk.rec.*.


==============================

Subject: 31. Top-level groups

Certain groups are at the top level within the uk.* hierarchy. Some of these
are intended to remain so permanently, such as
uk.answers
uk.misc
uk.test

Others are at the top level for historical reasons, and ought really to be
moved to a more appropriate place in the hierarchy, although it is not
always clear, at the time of writing, what that other place should be.

Note that there is no proposal to rename any of these groups at the
present time, but their position should be reviewed if and when other
related groups come to be considered. It is still possible that some of
these will eventually form the roots of proper hierarchies.

A list follows:

uk.consultants
uk.d-i-y
uk.gay-lesbian-bi
uk.legal
uk.railway
uk.singles
uk.radio.amateur (not the basis for a good hierarchy now that
uk.rec.* exists)
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