From: Toni Emerson <"temerson"@hitl.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: ADMIN: Hype Posts-SGI trivia..
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 09:27:08 -0700
Organization: Human Interface Technology Lab



>I  guess most of you have seen the trivia "ANNOUNCE: SGI Evangelist, 
>etc" in this group. 

Are you saying that the ANNOUNCE: was trivia or the discussion that 
ensued?

I disagree that the announcement was trivial.  Granted there was a high 
percentage  of  press release-type information.    However, it did contain  
information about Linda Jacobson  and what she's doing.  As an member of 
our virtual community, it was noteworthy.  

Most of the information posted in the ANNOUNCE: newsgroup originates
from press releases.  This means that it will contain company hype.
IMHO, this information value outweighs the detriment of hype.

Company professionals are part of the sci.virtual-worlds group.  It
sounds like you would like to limit their participation.

>I proposed to our moderator, Toni Emerson, to investigate the possibility
>of imposing some short of hype limits to the ANNOUNCE type posts. I 
>think it would make this place more enjoyable.

Hype limits?   How are you going to define hype?  Will I then be rejecting 
anything that _I_ find hype-ful?  

I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with that.  

We do walk a fine line here.  Company information versus commercial
postings on USENET.  Below is a section from the FAQ which states
rejection policy on this issue:

"Subject: -6- Is is okay to post commercial announcements?

Usenet newsgroups are _not_ to be used advertising bulletin boards.
Usenet is pretty firm on this issue.  Up until this point, I have
tried to tag postings that are in the advertising vein with a
disclaimer:

[MODERATOR'S NOTE: Commercial postings are offered on this 
newsgroup as a public service.  Their appearance here does not indicate 
endorsement by the moderators or by the USENET or its administrators.]

Postings used as advertising, but phrased as "Re:" to discussion and/or 
announcements _will be rejected_.

sci.virtual-worlds encourages _informative_ discussion regarding
products (PROD:), new product announcements (NEW-PROD:), press
releases (ANNOUNCE:), and information and software available online
(ONLINE:)."

Toni Emerson
Moderator
scivw-request@hitl.washington.edu