I am very willing to work with some others to help start a moderated
newsgroup. My problem is that I am an unknown here, although I have
visited this group for many years, using different names.
To establish a moderated newsgroup, you need a team of trusted
persons who will work together as co-moderators, so that one person
doesn't have to do everything.
I have not solicited these persons, but over the years I have
learned that there are some __very__ trustworthy and dedicated
posters here. To drop some names, I'm thinging of Dr. Solo, janj,
Derek and Phyllis and Jim. (Many other trusted names have left.)
I have no idea if any of these persons would be interested in
working on this, but if they were, I'm sure we could get the group
going. (The co-moderators have to be a __very__ select and trusted
group.)

I'm retired and have lots of time. I've learned a lot about
moderated groups just this afternoon.
For example, to prevent trolls from flooding the moderators
with thousands of bogus posts, a robo-moderator (software program) is
put first. It can delete thousands of bogus posts in a matter of
seconds, unattended. The posts that get through are then passed on to
one of several moderators, who scan them, edit offensive language
where necessary, and then either delete the post or send it on to the
actual newsgroup.

In short, there are a lot of details to be worked out, and a
small group of trusted moderators are needed, __but it can be
done___. And all the trolls and garbage will be shut out, and the
new group can become what the old group used to be.
And if the new group were named rec.ponds.moderated, then it would
appear right next to the current group, making it easy for new readers
to find it. (Plus putting an occassional pointer & FAQ in this group)

I have a lot more info and ideas, but I don't want to make this
too long.

Trusted long-time posters: are you interested? Do you want
to help "save" the subject of this newsgroup?

george (not my real name)



On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:11:45 -0600, "JohnS" wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
I just did a google search on "moderated newsgroups".

I found a good introductory website:

www.swcp.com/~dmckeon/mod-faq.html

Why don't you start a moderated group George? The religious fruitcakes
finished this one off right quick.


He has a LOT of basic info on all aspects of moderated groups, as
well as many links and references.

I quickly scanned it. Yes, moderated groups do have a slower
distribution time. And a single moderator can easily "burn out."
But what looked real good to me was a group that uses a panel of
moderators, along with a form of robo-moderation.
Robo-moderation can filter out obviously trolled/off-topic
messages, and the rest can be distributed to several moderators, who
then can cancel them or send them on to the group. This takes a lot
of work & pressure off just a single human moderator.

Yes, its a pain, but its clear to me that its the ONLY thing
that will save/revive this group.

george





On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 15:43:29 -0500, wrote:

I just can't believe it. I left this group almost a year ago, after
having had all I could stand of the idiots who were destroying the
group.
I came back today thinking maybe the crazies had gotten tired and
left.
No way. Just the opposite. Looks like most of the good rec.
ponders are gone.

So isn't it time to start a new group that is moderated? Surely
someone of good reputation would be willing to moderate the group.
Its a pain, but there obviously is no other choice.
I don't know how moderating works, but surely someone here
should be willing to go through and filter out all the crazies. Maybe
after a few months they would finally give up.

What do other REAL rec ponders think?.

Its so sad to see this once-wonderful group now virtually dead.

PS: All you damned-crazies, please do not respond.

george