Re: sci.bio.paleontology and PALEONET

[Una Smith <una@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As reasons why PALEONET should not be gated to sci.bio.paleontology,
one person mentions noisy arguments on the DINOSAUR mailing list
(apparently without reading it) and the other mentions noise on an
anthropology newsgroup.  This is a fine illustration that being a
Usenet newsgroup is neither necessary nor sufficient to be "useless"
to "professional" readers.  I think it has far more to do with the
culture of the research communities in question, and the personal
characteristics of those who set the tone of debate in each forum,
whether newsgroup or mailing list.

None of the sci.bio.* newsgroups, with the occasional exception of
sci.bio, is known for indulging in flamefests and bitter argument.
Everyone involved with sci.bio.paleontology so far seems to prefer
the sort of civilised exchange that you see on PALEONET.  In fact,
several of us regularly contribute to PALEONET.

	Una Smith			una.smith@yale.edu

Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT  06520-8104