aus.computers

Misc computer types.

Charter of aus.computers

CONTENTS
========
1) What's new in this FAQ
2) Where to get this FAQ
3) How to use the aus.computer newsgroups
4) The aus.computer hierarchy Charter
5) Complaints and Spam
6) Blacklist
7) Credits and acknowledgments
8) History


=========================
1) What's new in this FAQ
=========================

The last posting of this FAQ by Mitchell Tanner seems to have been
2-Jun-1998, as determined by me back 29-Nov-1999 using Deja news. At that
time, the FAQ was versioned as "Revision 1.3", the links from
http://aus.news-admin.org/ were broken, and no one wanted to maintain this
FAQ. I requested that the FAQ, which was accessible from Deja at that time,
be stored on aus.news-admin site.

On 20-Dec-2000, I was surprised to see that this FAQ had not been stored on
the aus.new-admin site, and suggested we do this now. The problem was, the
FAQ was no longer accessible via Deja. Luckily, I did save a copy of it when
I first investigated on 29-Nov-1999, and posted a copy of this along with
my request on aus.net.news.

Nick Andrew responded, and asked me to send him the FAQ, however, he would
have preferred to maintain a link instead.

Without much spare time, I was able to make a number of modifications and 
corrections before forwarding Nick this latest FAQ, "Revision 1.4". It is 
largely the same FAQ. However, I've itemised the changes here:

o Reformatted to document to try and stay below a right margin of 77
  characters, using fixed-spaced ASCII.

o Added section 8, "History".

o Moved the previous "What's new.." into the history.

o Updated or removed various URLs (links).

o Modified the "Complaints and Spam" section (5), to read a little easier,
  and adjusted procedure to follow in determining who to send a complaint.

o Corrected most of the spelling mistakes.


Future modifications might include the removal of the "Blacklist" section
(6) (and references to black-listing), which without a maintainer, is pretty
much irrelevant.

regards, 
Richard Rudek.
22-Dec-2000.


========================
2) Where to get this FAQ
========================

This FAQ is available at: http://aus.news-admin.org/



==========================================
3) How to use the aus.computers newsgroups
==========================================

This document describes how the aus.computers newsgroups are intended to be
used. There are no set laws, but rather a series of conventions as well as
"net-etiquette" which should be kept in mind when you post to these groups.

Here are some of the most basic "rules":

o Do not post ad's for commercial products, services or web sites.

o Do not post get rich quick schemes (Make Money Fast/Quick Cash/etc.)

o Do not post on "adult" related topics (XXX sites etc.)

o Do not post binaries (files/photos/logos etc.)

o Do not post more than one copy of a message.
  (Please cross-post appropriately.)

o Do not post articles if they are not related to the topic of the specified
  newsgroup.

o Please try to keep PERSONAL "Wanted To Buy" or "For Sale" posts to the
  other relevant aus.ads* groups (see charter).

o Please post in text only - make sure your news reader/browser is set for
  standard text.

o When following up a post, please try not to include the entire original
  post - clip it so the main points are clear.

o When asking a question, try to include as much information about your
  problem and your setup as possible. The more details the better.



=====================================
4) The aus.computer hierarchy Charter
=====================================

Description: For the discussion of Australian computer related subjects.

Cross-posting is allowed, provided other groups in the cross-post are related
to computer discussions and the subject matter is on topic. It is not
recommended that cross-posting between the aus.computer hierarchy and aus.ads
hierarchy be supported, as this would largely defeat the purpose of the
aus.computer discussion newsgroups.

Those who do this should be advised at least three times before being
blacklisted.

However, non-commercial "personal" WTB and FS posts are permitted provided
they are individually posted (NOT cross-posted) to three or less groups in
the hierarchy, and are not repeated. Those who attempt to hide commercial
posts behind personal WTB or FS posts should be immediately blacklisted.

Commercial advertisements are forbidden, as well as announcements of web
pages and services not related to the group's topic-matter. This includes
(but not limited to) advertisements for MLM/MMF schemes, pornography sites,
any criminal activities (i.e.: pirate software), and commercial price lists.

Announcements of _NEW_ services provided to Australian Computer users may be
permitted, however this does _NOT_ include the posting of new or updated
price lists _OR_ posts that are repeated.

Whilst the group will not be moderated, retro-moderation techniques such as
cancels will be permitted for any post that is:

(A) cross-posted to more than five newsgroups.
                  *AND*
(B) not directly related to the topic matter of the group.
                  *AND*
(C) If a notification of the cancel (including the original message body)
    is posted to aus.net.news, with an explanation of the reason(s) for the
    cancellation.
                  *OR*
(D) If post is forbidden under the definition of the charter or the same
    entity reposts or posts similar material three times after ignoring or
    failing to abide by at least 3 separate warnings issued by the
    maintainer or authority appointed by them. Such cancels must abide by
    section (C) and the entire charter.

Cancelling of others' posts without following such steps is forbidden in the
aus.computer groups _UNLESSs_ the post meets the current Usenet Spam thresholds
and guidelines outlined by Tim Skirvin at :

 http://www.killfile.org/~tskirvin/faqs/spam.html

It is recommended that the issuing of cancels be undertaken by current net
authorities and that private individuals be discouraged (but not forbidden)
to issue cancels.

The choice of five groups for cancels eliminates the cancelling of any
"legitimate" posts - there are only thirteen Australian Computer Discussion
newsgroups, of which only two host similar topics (with cross-posting
between them not advised), and with nine aus.ad groups (also with
cross-posting between them not advised.)

Since the aus.computer hierarchy is only for discussion of _Australian_
computer topics, there should not be a great need to cross-post at all.

The decision not to encourage cross-posting between aus.computers* and
aus.ads* is so that the main purpose of the groups is not defeated.
i.e. discussion.

The addition of maintainer authorised cancels will allow the disposal of
forbidden posts by consistent offenders. However, it is expected that all
methods possible to avoid such cancels be investigated by the maintainer,
and that other net authorities be informed _prior_ to any action that will
repeatedly cancel multiple posts by a single entity.


======================
5) Complaints and Spam
======================

If you object to a post, please complain to the poster or the poster's site
administrator via e-mail. Check the message's headers for a "Complaints-To"
entry, or address complaints to "postmaster@", then the offender's site.

Also note that some offenders are able to forge various entries in the
message headers (such as "From:" and "Reply-To:"), so also check the
"NNTP-Posting-Host:" and "Path:" entries before sending your letter ; forged
"From:" and "Reply-To:" addresses have been used to mail-bomb unsuspecting
people.

If you object to a fellow reader/poster please take it up with them via
email and not within the newsgroup. If you feel you are being harassed,
please email their ISP with your complaint, and include your evidence.

If you have difficulty tracing the origin of an offending post please post
your query to the newsgroup or aus.net.news

If you think an article is a Spam, check news.admin.net-abuse.announce for
information.

The following canned replies might be useful for e-mailing errant posters:


-- SHORT VERSION --

The aus.computers.* hierarchy is for discussion on computer related topics
only. Please consider whether your post is appropriate.

For further information on the aus.computers.* hierarchy please read the
aus.computers FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions list) which can be found at:

http://aus.news-admin.org/



-- LONG VERSION --

To: posters_address
Subject: Welcome to aus.computers
From: your_name

Regarding your recent post to the aus.computers newsgroups.

The aus.computers hierarchy has a charter which outlines posting
suggestions for these groups.

We believe that your post falls outside these guidelines and request that
in future you post where you can best reach your intended audience.

The charter can be viewed at the address below on the aus.computers
Frequently Asked Questions:

http://aus.news-admin.org/


Here are some resources which might be of interest:

Australian Buy and Sell:
=-=-=-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-
aus.ads.commercial
aus.ads.forsale
aus.ads.forsale.computers
aus.ads.forsale.computers.new
aus.ads.forsale.computers.used
aus.ads.wanted

Austin, Texas Buy and Sell:
==-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-
austin.forsale
The `aus' in aus.ads or aus.computers does not mean `Austin, Texas'.

World Wide Buy and Sell:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Also use the misc.forsale.* newsgroups if you have an advertisement
intended for a world-wide audience.


Australian Buy & Sell FAQ's:
-=-=-=-=---==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
ftp://archie.au/usenet/FAQs/aus.ads.forsale/


Australian Computer Discussions:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-===-=-=-===-=-=
aus.computers
aus.computers.ai
aus.computers.amiga
aus.computers.cdrom
aus.computers.ibm-pc
aus.computers.linux
aus.computers.logic-prog
aus.computers.mac
aus.computers.os2
aus.computers.parallel
aus.computers.sun
aus.computers.tex


Signed,

your_name



============
6) Blacklist
============

The following is a list of posters who refuse to conform to the guidelines
laid out in this FAQ. Posters are added to this list only after explicitly
stating their decision or after repeatedly ignoring requests to state their
position. This is not a judgement on their character, simply a record of
fact.

The decision to take any action based on this list, such as the addition of
entries to killfiles or the refusal to sell to or buy from specific people,
is for each individual to make.

Suggestions for additions are welcome and will be investigated by the
maintainer.

** no names are blacklisted at present **



===============================
7) Credits and acknowledgments
===============================

This FAQ was written by Mitchell Tanner. <mitch@aardvark.apana.org.au> ?

Thanks to the following who allowed their ideas & material to be freely
plagiarised :)

Angus Mann  <amann@mail.usyd.edu.au>  - aus.comms
Adam Frey    <adam@eden.apana.org.au>  - Maintainer, aus.ads FAQ
Dave Nagle  <dnagle@wt.com.au>        - aus.net.news


Thanks also to:

Phil Herring who created the initial FAQ for aus.ads and Soh Kam Hung who
modified and maintained it.



==========
8) History
==========

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
21-Dec-2000: Rev 1.4, by Richard Rudek.

See "What's new in this FAQ" section (1), above.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-Jun-1998: Rev 1.3, by Mitchell Tanner.

Due to problems with archie.au an alternative ftp site is being
investigated - details soon.

A link to this FAQ is now included at:

 http://aus.news-admin.org/

All readers are encouraged to follow up this post with their comments.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Activity graph of aus.computers (articles posted per day)

The above graph is a moving average of the number of articles posted into aus.computers per day. The top of the green area counts the number of articles posted in the last 24 hours, whereas the blue line counts the number of articles posted in the last 2 hours, times 12.

Weekly activity graph

Monthly activity graph