usenet links

[henry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Henry Gee)]

In response to Una Smith's piece on usenet groups, I'd be very
much against linking paleonet with a usenet group. The good thing
about a mailing list is that it can be moderated -- usenet groups
are not. My experience of the anthropology usenet group (for example)
is that it tends to get swamped with ill-informed crankiness and is
generally of little use to professionals. 

It all depends on what you want. Public education is a lofty motive, 
but access to paleonet is (as far as I am aware) open to all, right 
now. It should remain a network for professionals. Enthusiasts have
their own lists such as 'dinosaur' which, I hear, is a source of
frustration and disk overload to all but the dedicated few.

The great thing about email and the internet is that you can have 
both, or neither, according to your needs and tastes. You don't have to
link paleonet with the usenet, which (for me) would be detrimental
to paleonet. If you want the usenet as well, you can -- there's 
nothing to stop you subscribing to both, provided that you don't
force *everyone* to do the same.
-- 
Henry Gee

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