Request for Discussion (RFD)
adopt and implement a standard charter
format for the us.* hierarchy
This is a formal Request for Discussion (RFD) of a proposal
to adopt and implement a standard charter format for the us.*
hierarchy. This is not a Call for Votes. Procedures will be
explained below at the end of this RFD.
Rationale: standard charter format
A recent study of the charters posted on the us.* hierarchy
website (www.usenetnews.us) revealed that several different
formats had been used. This was due primarily to changes
in policy and charter format over time. It is, however, rather
confusing to newcomers looking for good models to refer to
when writing their own newsgroup proposals.
On November 8, 2003. a proposal was made in us.config to
standardize the charter format for the us.* hierarchy with
a view toward revising existing charters to eliminate
obsolete 'boilerplate'. The revisions would not affect the
main sections of the charters themselves, but would affect
only the 'boilerplate' before and after the main charter
sections. See Message-ID
<BBD32042.1B80%izzy16@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Discussion continued for about 30 days, and changes were
made to the proposal. The FINAL RFD was posted to us.config
on December 5, 2003, and was accepted by the us.* Hierarchy
Maintainer. Then several people objected, and the project was
put on hold until after the holidays. See Message-ID:
<9caduvkj605f2r45u6s81epjm1csfjteqo@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>.
The time has come to revisit this proposal and solicit the views
of us.* users whose charters will be affected if and when the
proposal is approved. You are cordially invited to participate.
PROPOSAL: standard charter format
The following is taken directly from the FINAL RFD dated
December 5, 2003 and posted at Message-ID:
<BBF6097B.1FD8%izzy016@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>PROPOSAL DETAILS
>
>The following is the proposed standard Newsgroup Charter Format.
>
>This proposal applies to the charter format for unmoderated
>newsgroups only. There will be a separate charter format for
>moderated newsgroups.
>
>When the text is [enclosed in brackets], it represents instructions
>and/or details that explain certain points. The [bracketed text] will
>not appear in the user generated Charter.
>
>When the text is not enclosed in brackets, that text is part of the
>format and shall be included in the Charter.
>
>The <text> is provided by the Hierarchy maintainer as the document
>is placed in the archive, but it is not included in the user generated
>Charter.
>
>/BEGIN Newsgroup Charter Format/
>
><History: (newsgroup name)>
><newgrouped: (date newsgroup first appeared)>
><chartered: (date of first charter)>
><1st amended charter: (date) -as needed>
>
>
>CHARTER: [newsgroup name]
>
>[Spell out the details of the purpose of the group, give examples of
>acceptable / unacceptable posts / behavior, present your own view
>of what the group should be like. This section shall be formatted as
>paragraphs by the proponent, as required, to expand on these points.]
>
>[Two suggested paragraph headings are:
>Discussion Topics
>Restricted Topics.]
>
>POSTING GUIDELINES
>
>The most recent version of the us.* hierarchy posting
>rules apply to this group. Violations of this charter
>or the hierarchy rules may result in action being
>taken against the offender, and articles determined to
>be abuse OF the net may be canceled without warning.
>The us.* posting rules are posted periodically to us.config
>and on the web at http://www.usenetnews.us
>
>[Additional guidelines may be added as needed.]
>
>
>AMENDMENTS
>
>As provided by us.* hierarchy rules, this charter may
>be amended by consensus in us.config at the request
>of participants in the group after the six-month trial
>period expires on <date+6 months forward>. Proposals
>for amendments shall follow the same RFD procedures
>as proposals for new groups.
>
>/END Newsgroup Charter Format/
The charter format outlined above has already been incorporated
into an RFDmaker for the us.* hierarchy, which you will find on
the web at http://www.ckdog.co.uk/us/rfdmaker.php.
We would
like to hear from you whether you would like to have it incorporated
into the charters as well. This is a very important issue, and we need
to know how you feel. To participate, post a follow up to this message
and then subscribe to us.config to follow the discussion.
PROCEDURE:
This proposal will remain on the table in us.config for ten days,
to and including February 18, 2004. If at the end of ten days, it
appears that consensus has been reached, the proposal will be
adopted and implemented. But if there are disagreements, two
7-day extensions may be granted by the Hierarchy Maintainer
to continue the discussion. If, at the end of 30 days, there is still
no agreement, the Hierarchy Maintainer may make a unilateral
decision in accordance with the provisions of the us.* hierarchy
newsgroup creation guidelines which govern situations in which
no consensus has been reached.
PROPONENT; Henrietta K. Thomas <hkt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Distribution: us.arts, us.arts.poetry, us.config, us.issues,
us.issues.abortion, us.legal, us.legal.self-represent,
us.military.history, us.military.national-guard, us.military.navy,
us.misc, us.org.bicycle-greenways.nbg, us.politics,
us.politics.elections, us.taxes. (in 3 sets of 5 groups each)
Appendix: standard charter format
From the 2nd RFD posted at Message-ID:
<BBE0676F.1E21%izzy016@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
on November 19, 2003:
>A summary of the formats of current newsgroups follows:
>
>8 Groups:
>Untitled Description
>Charter
>Posting Rules
>Newsgroup Host
>Annual Review
>
>2 Groups:
>Untitled Description
>Charter
>
>2 Groups:
>(no description)
>Charter
>Posting Guidelines
>6 Month Trial
>
>2 Groups:
>(no description)
>Charter
>Cross Posting
>Posting Guidelines
>Newsgroup host
>6 Month Trial
>
>1 Group:
>Untitled Description
>Charter
>Posting Guidelines
>6 Month Trial
>
>1 Group:
>Untitled Description
>Charter
>Posting Guidelines
>Format
>Newsgroup Host
>6 Month Trial
>
>1 Group:
>Untitled Description
>Charter
>Newsgroup Host
>6 Month Trial
>
>1 Group:
>(no description)
>Charter
>Crossposting
>Posting Rules
>Newsgroup Host
>6 Month Review
>
>Total 18 groups/charters
END RFD
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