On comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica being moderated [Re: Mathematica problem - generate filename automatically]

On Sep 20, 4:17 am, "Dave (from the UK)" <see-my-signat...@see-
below.com> wrote:
Bhuvanesh wrote:
[...]
P.S.: This question really should go to the Mathematica newsgroup (MathGroup):http://forums.wolfram.com/mathgroup

I am aware of that, but I have over the years become very disillusioned
with that resource - in particular the moderated newsgroup
comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica

i) Moderation means getting responses can be slow. I often find posting
to newsgroups brings solutions in an hour or less, but its not unknown
for one to have to wait ages for a post to appear if sent to
comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica

This is indeed a drawback to a moderated Usenet group.


This problem is probably somewhat worst for me, as I'm in Europe with a
timezone very different from that of the moderator.

ii) Steve (the moderator) seems to object if I post from an obviously
phony email address, despite the fact the question is sensible.

I do not know the specifics of this. My guess is he requires valid
addresses to help keep down the level of spam and crankery. Possibly
he does not fully read the posts when the address is invalid.


iii) Sending to the newsgroup sometimes results in one receiving a
response directly from Wolfram Research before it even appears on the
list. i.e. too much censorship I feel.

This is much more likely a case of synchronization than what you
suspect. Messages are sent to us in advance of posting, at the rate of
maybe one per year. And in those rare cases, I'd be surprised if
replies were sent out from Wolfram Research employees in advance of
the message actually appearing.

In contrast, it is quite common to see a lag between messages
appearing in, say, the MathGroup mailing list, and some news browsers.
In such circumstances I can easily see how a reply could reach one via
email before the original post has been seen on such a browser.


iv) Some things, which I feel would be useful, appear to be banned
topics. This is as topic I posted some time back with the title "
University License fees are short sighted of Wolfram Research

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/sci.math.symbolic/tree/browse_frm/th...

was not permitted. I posted it here, and got some useful feedback - not
only on the newsgroup, but by private emails to/from Wolfram.

All the same, it was deservedly kept off MathGroup.

I too have been known to take a keen interest in university pricing.
That does not make MathGroup an appropriate place for discussion (or,
more correctly, airing of complaints) of the topic.

Me, I'd prefer that more comparison with other software be allowed. It
gives useful information, for one thing. That said, I do not like the
idea that posters might go non-stop in that direction (as happened,
not too long ago, albeit with the other software unnamed). I do not
have a good idea of how/where to draw the line, but that does not mean
it couldn't be done somewhere other than "No explicit mention of other
programs".


v) If one attempts to cross-post to sci.math.symbolic and
comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica, then it does not appear on
sci.math.symbolic until/if Steve permits it on
comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica. That is the nature of how newsgroups
work. So I dont even tend to cross post now.

Overall, I don't like the degree of censorship. There are Matlab and
Maple newsgroups which are unmoderated and work well in my opinion.

--
Dave (from the UK)
[...]

They work as well as the collected body of posters. Which is to say,
quite well for one, and not quite as well for the other (if you look
at signal/noise as your primary measure of wellness). In any case,
moderated and unmoderated Usenet groups are different models, with
their various strengths and weaknesses. I myself am quite happy with
the direction MathGroup/comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica went, admitted
drawbacks notwithstanding. But I think regardless of which side one
takes, it should be understood that there are disadvantages to either
model.


Daniel Lichtblau
Wolfram Research

.

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