Re: 2nd RFD: management_consolidation

[Stephen Thomas Cole]

Mark Goodge <ma...@good-stuff.co.uk> wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
> 2ND REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
>
> This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the following changes
> in the uk.* Usenet hierarchy:
>
> delete newsgroup uk.net.news.management
> delete newsgroup uk.net.news.config
> create moderated newsgroup uk.net.news.admin
>
> Changes from previous RFD:
>
> This is the second version of this RFD, following feedback on the
> previous version. There are three changes to the RFD from the previous
> version:
>
> 1) This version includes an alternate version of the Moderation
> Policy, as suggested by contributors to that discussion. Version 1 is
> the original policy from the 1st RFD. Version 2 is a new, shorter and
> simpler policy.
>
> 2) The mandatory clause prohibiting binaries has been added to the
> charter, and references to plain text removed from version 1 of the
> moderation policy (as this clause renders that redundant).
>
> 3) A clause prohibiting advertising has been added to the charter.
>
> Newsgroup line:
> uk.net.news.admin Management of the uk.* hierarchy (Moderated)
>
>
> *** ALL DISCUSSION MUST TAKE PLACE IN UK.NET.NEWS.CONFIG ***
>
> This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time.
> Further procedural details are given below.
>
> RATIONALE: management_consolidation
>
> There currently exists two groups where discussion of changes to the
> uk.* hierarchy are discussed: uk.net.news.config and
> uk.net.news.management.
>
> The second of these groups was created at a time when Usenet usage was
> at a peak. The rationale at the time was to separate proposals for
> changes to the guidelines, for which the new group,
> uk.net.news.management, was created, separating them from proposals
> for new groups (which continued to be discussed in
> uk.net.news.config).
>
> In retrospect, this change was probably unnecessary. It was a response
> to a perceived overload of uk.net.news.config at a time when both new
> group proposals and guidelines changes were taking place. The
> expectation at the time was that this would continue. In reality, it
> has not.
>
> Usenet, while by no means in terminal decline, does appear to have
> passed its peak. More pertinently, the number of new group proposals
> is now far lower, with the vast majority of topics that could need a
> group now having one. Equally, there seems to be less of an appetite
> for continual tinkering with the guidelines. Reverting to a single
> group for these purposes will minimise confusion.
>
> However, a separate issue has arisen which needs to be addressed.
> Several recent new group proposals have involved the creation of
> moderated groups, in response to a perceived need to have a "safe
> space" where trolls and wreckers cannot operate freely. These
> proposals, by their nature, have been controversial.
>
> A consequence of the successful forming of these groups has been that
> those who made their formation necessary have taken their disputes
> into the management groups. The vast majority of material currently
> posted to both uk.net.news.management and uk.net.news.config is off
> topic.

Point of order; whilst this RFD is open, all abusive off-topic postings to
the management groups are actually on-topic, so “currently” above is
inaccurate. I don’t think that your error here is fatal to the RFD but I
suggest you consult The Committee for a ruling. HTH.

> This RFD proposes a solution to both of these problems at the same
> time, by removing both of the current managementment groups and
> replacing them with a single, moderated management group:
> uk.net.news.admin.
>
>
> CHARTER: uk.net.news.admin
>
> This newsgroup is for the discussion of the management of the uk.*
> news hierarchy, the committee appointed to oversee the management of
> said hierarchy, the creation, modification or removal of groups within
> the hierarchy, and the guidelines which document the processes
> applicable in managing the hierarchy.
>
> Matters which are on topic include:
>
> * Discussion and debate about the UK Usenet Committee and officers
> * RFDs and informal discussion of changes to groups within uk.*
> * RFDs and informal discussion of changes to the UK Usenet Guidelines
> * Other discussion relevant to the management of the UK Usenet
> hierarchy
>
> Formal RFDs to change any aspect of the hierarchy, including group
> creation, renaming, rechartering and removal, as well as changes to
> the UK Usenet Guidelines, shall be discussed in this group.
>
> For the purposes of the guidelines, this group shall be the definitive
> record of the discussion. All RFDs should indicate where the
> definitive discussion should take place.
>
> This group is moderated to ensure that all discussions remain on topic
> and do not become unduly drawn out.
>
> Advertising
>
> Advertising is forbidden.
>
> Binaries and Formatting
>
> Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.) are
> forbidden. Such material belongs on a web or FTP site to which a
> pointer may be posted. Cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP) may be used
> where authentication is important and should be as short as possible.
>
> Posts must be readable as plain text. HTML, RTF and similarly
> formatted messages are prohibited.
>
> MODERATION POLICY:
>
> [Version 1]
>
> For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions are used:
>
> Thread Starter: An article posted to the group which has no
> References headers.
>
> Thread Member: An article posted to the group which contains
> References headers to previous articles.
>
> The following will always be accepted for posting to the group:
>
> 1. Thread Starters consisting of a valid RFD or CFV crossposted
> to uk.net.news.announce (and, where appropriate, any other group).
>
> 2. Thread Starters consisting of formal statements issued by the UK
> Usenet Committee or UKVoting, crossposted to uk.net.news.announce
> (and, where appropriate, any other group). This includes, but is
> not limited to, CFV results, statements relating to appeals and
> notices regarding either organisation.
>
> 3. Thread Members which meet ALL of the following criteria:
> a) MUST contain at least one References header to a
> previously approved article,
> b) MUST NOT be crossposted to any group that the Thread Starter
> was not crossposted to,
> c) MUST NOT have a Follow-ups header to any group not in the
> Newsgroups header,
> d) MUST NOT contain a References header to a topic which has been
> closed by the moderators,
> e) MUST retain the same Subject line as the Thread Starter, other
> than prepending the standard reply indicator "Re:"
>
> Other Thread Starters will be accepted at the discretion of the
> moderators, where it appears that the thread is sufficiently on-topic
> for the group. Discretionary Thread Starters MUST NOT be crossposted
> to any other group.
>
> With the exception of discretionary thread starters, it is not the
> intention that moderation should be on the basis of content. Once a
> topic has been accepted for discussion, users of the group may post
> freely to it as long as it remains open, provided that their posts
> meet the technical criteria, above. There will be no whitelisting or
> blacklisting of contributors.
>
> The moderators may, at their discretion, allow an alteration to a
> Subject line in a Thread Member where the change is reasonable and
> does not affect the meaning (eg, to correct spelling, or to truncate
> an excessively long Subject). Changes which signify a change of topic
> should not be allowed.
>
> The moderators may, at their discretion, close a thread to further
> discussion. RFD/CFV threads may only be closed after the discussion
> period specified within the RFD/CFV has expired. Non-RFD/CFV threads
> may be closed at any time.
>
> It is envisaged that, insofar as it is possible, the majority of
> moderation decisions will be made automatically by software. The
> moderators may use any tools at their disposal to facilitate manual
> decisions.
>
> [End Version 1]
>
> [Version 2]
>
> The following will always be accepted for posting to the group:
>
> 1) A valid RFD or CFV crossposted to uk.net.news.announce (and, where
> appropriate, any other group).
>
> 2) Formal statements issued by the UK Usenet Committee or UKVoting,
> crossposted to uk.net.news.announce (and, where appropriate, any
> other group). This includes, but is not limited to, CFV results,
> statements relating to appeals and notices regarding either
> organisation.
>
> 3) Posts in any thread started by either of the above, provided that
> a) the Subject line remains unchanged (other than prepending the
> standard reply indicator "Re:"),
> b) no newsgroups are included in either the Newsgroups or
> Follow-ups headers that were not present in the original post,
> c) the content of the post remains on-topic for the stated
> subject of the thread, and
> c) the content of the post is not abusive, defamatory, unduly
> repetitive or otherwise disruptive to the group.
>
> Other posts may be accepted at the discretion of the moderators.
>
> Moderators may use whatever tools they feel appropriate to ensure the
> smooth running of the group.
>
> [End Version 2]
>
> MODERATOR INFO:
>
> The moderators shall include Control, in his capacity as moderator of
> uk.net.news.announce and therefore as authorised to crosspost to
> uk.net.news.admin.
>
> Other moderators shall be appointed by the UK Usenet Committee. The
> number of other moderators and their term of office shall be entirely
> at the discretion of the Committee.
>
> With the exception of Control when cross-posting to
> uk.net.news.announce, moderators may not approve their own posts.
>
> END CHARTER
>
> PROCEDURE:
>
> This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase of
> the process, any potential problems with the proposal should be raised
> and resolved. The discussion period will continue for a minimum of 10
> days, starting from when this RFD is posted to uk.net.news.announce
> (i.e. until June 7th) after which a Call For Votes (CFV) may be
> posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion warrants it.
> Alternatively, the proposal may proceed by the fast-track method. Please
> do not attempt to vote until this happens.
>
> This RFD attempts to comply fully with the "Guidelines for Group Creation
> within the UK Hierarchy" as published regularly in uk.net.news.announce
> and is available from http://www.usenet.org.uk/guidelines.html (the UK
> Usenet website). Please refer to this document if you have any questions
> about the process.
>
> DISTRIBUTION:
>
> This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:
> uk.net.news.announce
> uk.net.news.config
>
> Proponent:
> Mark Goodge <ma...@good-stuff.co.uk>
>

I will vote in favour of this proposal.

--
STC / M0TEY / People’s Champion 2018
http://twitter.com/ukradioamateur