where is everybody

A few months ago there were hundreds of SPAM articles posted. I think this drove readers/posters away.

With the advent of blogging and rss feeds, people are getting this type of content elsewhere. Newsgroups days are indeed numbered.

I have not seen much change in this group.

It seems young people don't like Usenet, but Usenet has true worth and simplicity, and forums get too involved. I'm tired of picking up new usernames and passwords. usenet is archieved, and when a forum goes down, everything is lost. You can monitor tens, hundreds of different topics. Try to keep all those web broswers opened, with tens and hundreds of open links.

greg

There's been a huge change in activity here compared to five or so years ago.

I agree. You also have the issue of censorship. While moderation can at times be desirable, I've seen moderation in some web forums become harse, arbitrary, petty, and needlessly dictatorial.

On 2/18/2009 7:37 AM Joel ignored two million years of human evolution to write:

The change seems even bigger compared to ten years ago, when two of Usenet's most asshole-ish trolls were infesting this group.

Moderation works at a cost. Better yet for asshole trolls to expose themselves and slink off in shame.

ObBeer: Finale weekend, San Francisco Beer Week. Five different hefeweizens at Gordon Biersch, a nice session at Monk's Kettle, and a killer beer & chocolate dinner at the Cathedral Hill Hotel. Judged barleywine for the Toronado, went to the Celebrator's Best of the West party, and somehow found time to hit Magnolia, Alembic, La Trappe, 21st Amendment, and Suppenküche. Boo-yah!