wrote:

I have participated in Usenet newsgroups for over 15 years,
but I just don't think (right now) that they are any longer
a productive use of time.

So I've pretty much switched to mailing lists instead. I
still read this group from time to time. I skipped the
whole eternal cross-posted thread.... ugh. That was a
beautiful, perhaps classic, example of why I don't think
newsgroups a worthwhile use of time at present.

Several of my favorites seem to be degenerating, too. I hang in,
hoping regulars will learn not to feed the trolls and the obscene
children will get tired of their games and go away.

A somewhat chatty group, like rec.gardens, *does* tend to wander
off-topic. Moderated groups (like rec.food.recipes) are much tidier,
but a little dull. :-)

I thought the "self-sufficiency" thread was originally rather
thought-provoking. And of course, relevant to .edible. However,
unmoderated debate always seems to attract insult-hurlers.

Stick around, Pat. We can all use reports from the *real* trenches.