Jargon File distribution -- policy query

[Eric S. Raymond]

The Jargon File version 2.8.1 will be coming out in a couple of days.

I've caught some flames for 1) posting the File too often, and b) cross-
posting it to too many newsgroups.  Before I post it again, I want to
explain why I've been doing what I've been doing and ask for help in
formulating a policy that will annoy as few people as possible.

First point.  I've been posting Jargon File versions once every 14 days or
so for the last couple of months.  That's a lot of volume, all right.  There
*is* a purpose to it.  The purpose is to open the editorial process for the
`New Hacker's Dictionary' (the upcoming book version) to as many netters as
care to participate.  My final freeze date for the ms is April 10, so you
can expect the frequency to drop off considerably.

In the meantime, I and the First Edition coauthors belueve it is critically
important that as many people as possible be allowed to review and contribute
to the material.  Thus my desire that the File get wide and frequent exposure.

If you're not interested in being part of this process, fine; many netters
are (as the three megabytes of response mail I've had on line shows), and all
I ask is that you stay out of the way (that is, forbear from grumbling about
`jargon file du jour' -- your `n' key exists for a reason).  I think the net
can stand the extra volume twice a month; a lot more gets wasted on pure
flamage every day.

Second point.  I haven't been able to settle on a completely satisfactory
set of groups for the distribution.  The fundamental problem is that
the alt.folklore.computers group, which is `home' to the effort, isn't
carried as widely as it might be.  I get too much mail every week from
people who've only *heard* of the file and have no way to get it via news.
I keep an ftp version available, but many people don't have FTP ability.

So...where to cross-post it for better coverage?  I've tried all four of
the other groups in the Newsgroups line, and been ushered out of three of
them by a few disgruntled inhabitants in spite of an obvious high level of
interest. 

This problem may go away if the comp.society.folklore proposal passes.  In
the meantime, I'll crosspost to a.f.c and misc.misc only and post
announcements elsewhere.  Anyone with a better idea is welcome to email
me with it.

Followups to this message have been redirected to me; the *last* thing the net
needs is yet another quintuply-cross-posted meta-discussion...
-- 
      Eric S. Raymond = eric at snark.thyrsus.com  (mad mastermind of TMN-Netnews)