OT: Cross Posting

  • Thread starter Thread starter Devang Devani
  • Start date Start date
D

Devang Devani

Kinda new at this newsgroup thingie so I have a pretty dumb question.

Why do most people in newgroups consider cross-posting inappropriate?
Especially if there is a valid question involved, I figure that the more
places you post the more answers you are apt to get to your question because
not everyone subscribes to all the newsgroups.
 
Devang said:
Kinda new at this newsgroup thingie so I have a pretty dumb
question.

Why do most people in newgroups consider cross-posting
inappropriate? Especially if there is a valid question involved,
I figure that the more places you post the more answers you are
apt to get to your question because not everyone subscribes to
all the newsgroups.
Click to expand...

There are something like 15 to 20,000 (maybe more) newsgroups.
Things are divided up because people do not want to discuss
everything under the sun. Once you cross-post to a wide selection
you are likely to get interminable threads, full of off topic
nonsense, attract kooks, and whatnot.

If you really must crosspost, you should have a very good idea of
what is on and off topic on every group to which you post. Also
cross-post, do not multi-post. Your initial cross-posted enquiry
is meant to attract attention from various groups, not to intrude
upon them forever, therefore you should ALWAYS set follow-ups to
the principle group you are using.

In general, don't crosspost. If you must, then limit the number
and set followups.
 
Kinda new at this newsgroup thingie so I have a pretty dumb question.

Why do most people in newgroups consider cross-posting inappropriate?
Click to expand...

Because those folks want the entire world to follow their rules.
Everybody wants to be the cop...even me occasionally! lol

You'll get the same warning/discussion on top posting vs. bottom
posting vs. inline posting.
Especially if there is a valid question involved, I figure that the more
places you post the more answers you are apt to get to your question because
not everyone subscribes to all the newsgroups.
Click to expand...

Do it YOUR way!

Just be aware that some ISP's limit you to the number of groups you
can crosspost to. Giganews, for instance, has a limit of 10 different
groups.

If you think you need to follow a rule, the rule should be the
limitation placed on your posts by your ISP. They're the only one
that has any valid rule re: crossposting.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!
 
Devang Devani said:
Kinda new at this newsgroup thingie so I have a pretty dumb question.

Why do most people in newgroups consider cross-posting inappropriate?
Especially if there is a valid question involved, I figure that the more
places you post the more answers you are apt to get to your question because
not everyone subscribes to all the newsgroups.
Click to expand...

Crossposting itself isn't considered bad... it's that most folks will hit
20+ groups just because they hope someone might answer them, even if the
groups are off topic.

Hit the most relevant group(s) first and then if you don't get an answer,
ask in a more general group.

i.e. Ask your printer questions in alt.periphs.printers and then if you get
no answer try alt.computer.hardware... Don't do them both at the same time.
 
Noozer said:
Crossposting itself isn't considered bad... it's that most folks will hit
20+ groups just because they hope someone might answer them, even if the
groups are off topic.

Hit the most relevant group(s) first and then if you don't get an answer,
ask in a more general group.

i.e. Ask your printer questions in alt.periphs.printers and then if you get
no answer try alt.computer.hardware... Don't do them both at the same
Click to expand...
time.

Another problem you get with cross posting is that you just increase the
probability that you'll end up with a 'non-expert' giving you an incorrect
answer besides pissing off people with OT posts.
 
Crossposting itself isn't considered bad... it's that most folks will hit
20+ groups just because they hope someone might answer them, even if the
groups are off topic.

Hit the most relevant group(s) first and then if you don't get an answer,
ask in a more general group.

i.e. Ask your printer questions in alt.periphs.printers and then if you get
no answer try alt.computer.hardware... Don't do them both at the same time.
Click to expand...

The problem with that approach is that if I read both groups, I am going to be forced to read the same
message *twice*, whereas if it is crossposted to both groups, then my newsreader will only give me the
message in the first group, and consider it already read in the second (and subsequent groups).

That being said, however, there is almost *never* any need to crosspost a message to more than two or
three groups at the most.

Jon
 
Thanks! I got my answer .. and sorry about the off topic question to this
newsgroup :s
 
CBFalconer said:
There are something like 15 to 20,000 (maybe more) newsgroups.
Things are divided up because people do not want to discuss
everything under the sun. Once you cross-post to a wide selection
you are likely to get interminable threads, full of off topic
nonsense, attract kooks, and whatnot.

If you really must crosspost, you should have a very good idea of
what is on and off topic on every group to which you post. Also
cross-post, do not multi-post. Your initial cross-posted enquiry
is meant to attract attention from various groups, not to intrude
upon them forever, therefore you should ALWAYS set follow-ups to
the principle group you are using.

In general, don't crosspost. If you must, then limit the number
and set followups.
Click to expand...

**** off you pompous little shit.
 
Unfortunately there are some very jumped up little tossers about on usenet
who like to tell people what they can and cannot do.
Just tell the to **** off and do as you please, hopefully eventually
they will get the message.

Their brains are so small minded they cannot cope with more than one
concept at a time, I forget the psychiactric term for the illness.
 
CBFalconer said:
There are something like 15 to 20,000 (maybe more) newsgroups.
Things are divided up because people do not want to discuss
everything under the sun. Once you cross-post to a wide selection
you are likely to get interminable threads, full of off topic
nonsense, attract kooks, and whatnot.

If you really must crosspost, you should have a very good idea of
what is on and off topic on every group to which you post. Also
cross-post, do not multi-post. Your initial cross-posted enquiry
is meant to attract attention from various groups, not to intrude
upon them forever, therefore you should ALWAYS set follow-ups to
the principle group you are using.

In general, don't crosspost. If you must, then limit the number
and set followups.
Click to expand...


Please don't post your off topic shit in here what had that to do
with hardware you twat?
 
bollocks

Jabba said:
time.

Another problem you get with cross posting is that you just increase the
probability that you'll end up with a 'non-expert' giving you an incorrect
answer besides pissing off people with OT posts.
Click to expand...
 
Some people are just born whingers, they whinge about anything spelling
gerammer
posting format, sig file, cross posting, basacillly anything they can think
off.
I wish they would stick to the correct group alt.whinging.bastards

Devang Devani said:
Thanks! I got my answer .. and sorry about the off topic question to this
newsgroup :s
Click to expand...
 
half_pint said:
Unfortunately there are some very jumped up little tossers about on
usenet who like to tell people what they can and cannot do.
Just tell the to **** off and do as you please, hopefully eventually
they will get the message.

Their brains are so small minded they cannot cope with more than one
concept at a time, I forget the psychiactric term for the illness.
Click to expand...

It's your home group, alt.wankers!


Richard.
 
half_pint said:
**** off you pompous little shit.
and...

Please don't post your off topic shit in here what had that to do
with hardware you twat?
Click to expand...

Sad to see that our moronic European twit has returned...
 
Some people just want millions of obscure newsgroups
where no one ever posts to because they are dead.


Devang Devani said:
Kinda new at this newsgroup thingie so I have a pretty dumb question.

Why do most people in newgroups consider cross-posting inappropriate?
Especially if there is a valid question involved, I figure that the more
places you post the more answers you are apt to get to your question because
not everyone subscribes to all the newsgroups.
Click to expand...

No not the 80,000 odd +.

Just ignore people who try to bully you, they are mainly brainless bean
counters.
 
Devang said:
Kinda new at this newsgroup thingie so I have a pretty dumb question.

Why do most people in newgroups consider cross-posting inappropriate?
Click to expand...

It's not if it's on topic for the groups you post it to. You are -NOT-
supposed to repeat the same message in multiple groups even if some people
think that you should. Crossposting is wrong when you post say to this
group and alt.vampire unless you can figure out a post that would be
related to both subjects!
 
Kinda new at this newsgroup thingie so I have a pretty dumb question.

Why do most people in newgroups consider cross-posting inappropriate?
Especially if there is a valid question involved, I figure that the more
places you post the more answers you are apt to get to your question because
not everyone subscribes to all the newsgroups.
Click to expand...

Cross-posting is fine in moderation, but consider the difficulty
of the problem before choosing how many groups. For example, if
all you needed was the pinout of a USB port, it would be
excessive and a waste of human resources to post it to several
groups when certainly one, appropriate group, could answer the
question. Then again a Google search may find solutions to these
more simple questions or problems.

On the other hand, if it's a relatively difficult question then
there will be a lower number of groups where it's likely you'd
receive any answer, let alone the best answer/solution or even a
correct answer/solution.

Keep in mind that any headstrong kid whose parents have a
computer can (and often does) post nonsense. When posts start
picking up ignorant or trolling replies, they often turn into
flame wars and drift so far off topic that it could even take
longer to get correct, complete answer than if you'd posted to
fewer groups.
 
Keep in mind that any headstrong kid whose parents have a
computer can (and often does) post nonsense. When posts start
picking up ignorant or trolling replies, they often turn into
flame wars and drift so far off topic that it could even take
longer to get correct, complete answer than if you'd posted to
fewer groups.
Click to expand...

That's why its often better to make multiple posts. Just pick 5 or 10
appropriate groups and post a separate message to each. If a flame
war DOES start, it'll stay within that group.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!
 
Trent© said:
That's why its often better to make multiple posts. Just pick 5 or 10
appropriate groups and post a separate message to each. If a flame
war DOES start, it'll stay within that group.
Click to expand...
I think you lot live in a fantasy world, cross posting is not a problem,
what is a problem is people making a perfectly valid post
to several groups and then getting some kumped up little
hitler administering an admonishment to him.

The result is like this one, a perferctly valid thread full of
irrelevant posts.
 
Back
Top