On 3/7/97, George Erdner grokked "Re: New Temporary Moderat", and said to 
Kenneth Newman: 
 
  GE> I am well aware that there are lots and lots of narrowly focused
  GE> echoes on Fido (and other echo nets). The problem, as I see it, is
  GE> that ALL echo mail conferences on ALL nets are getting less and less
  GE> message traffic because people are shifting to the Internet. I think
  GE> one of the best ways to keep echo mail nets alive and viable is to
  GE> have fewer conferences with wider ranges of topics. Confernces that
  GE> have lots of mail to read and reply to are, frankly, a lot more fun
  GE> than conferences with small amounts of mail.
Absolutely not. I have sampled rec.music.progressive and found it severely 
lacking, generating TONS of mail and very little CONTENT. very little 
signal:noise ratio. God forbid we remove the focus of this group, which is 
the ONLY reason I still access Fido: Better information, a more laid-back 
atmosphere, more SIGNAL, less NOISE. 
  GE> The problem is that there is often a natural progression of threads
  GE> that stray into different areas. These threads, I find, are usually a
  GE> lot more interesting than the ones that stick to a very tightly
  GE> focused topic. On Fido, it seems that natural digressions of message
  GE> threads into areas close to the main topic get cut off instead of
  GE> wandering wherever they may.
in which case you can take it to another echo more suitable for such topics, 
or take it to netmail. they wander to and fro quite a bit anyway. but I am 
here to talk about ProgRock, NOT about other commercially viable rock, but 
about the very music that is SO hard to find because most stores simply don't 
STOCK the stuff because it's too complex for the average 
cheeze-whiz-type-over-played-music-listening person. (pardon my french)
  KN> That's absolutely correct. Fido is moderated. For most people this is
  KN> one of its attractions.
ABSOL00TELY. :D
  GE> Given the steady decreasing message traffic on Fido, I have to assume
  GE> that "most" people are switching to the Internet and aren't calling
  GE> local Bulletin Boards to participate in echo mail nets anymore. I
  GE> submit that a re-evaluation of Fido policy regarding the narrowness of
  GE> topics would go a long way to preserving Fidonet as a viable
  GE> institution.
not really. how does one go about FINDING bulletin boards anyway? I couldn;t 
tell you where the nearest bulletin board is set up. why don't they advertise 
locally? 
  GE> So given that view, I think that this particular echo is as good a
  GE> place to start expanding the scope of discussions as any other.
  GE> Besides, I have seen a great many posts from people who say that
  GE> Prog-Rock is one of their favorite types of music, yet they also enjoy
  GE> other genres. I doubt that very many Prog-Rock fans would be that
  GE> upset if a discussion that starts on a strictly Prog-Rock topic were
  GE> to be allowed to continue it's natural flow into other areas.
I know *I* would. I am here to talk about PROG ROCK. Progrock Progressive 
Rock. NOT Anything else. I want to find out about bands I;ve never heard yet, 
get people's opinions and try them out when I can find the stuff. I'm sick 
and tired of radio cheeze whiz and hardly EVER listen to the radio anymore. 
  GE> Well, if you don't have the authority, who does? Understand, I am not
  GE> challenging the authority of the powers that be, I am attempting to
  GE> get them to change their minds. I do not dispute the rules, I am
  GE> trying to start a dialogue to convince everyone that a change in the
  GE> rules would be beneficial.
I thoroughly disagree. 
I am NOT here to discuss rules. 
I am NOT here to discuss changing the rules.
I am not here to discuss babagnoosh recipies.
I am not here to discuss JAZZ FUNK FUSION COUNTRY BLUES METAL ALTERNATIVE or 
CLASSICAL music.
I am here to discuss PROGRESSIVE ROCK. if I want to discuss something ELSE, I 
will either find a discussion group FOR that, or go make one myself. 
PLEAAAASSSSEEEEE can we get back to talking about the MUSIC? this wastes my 
time. 
-=
ObProg:
Has anyone heard anything about whether they've managed to pressure Gentle 
Giant into doing any more music? Any chance there'll be another Jethro Tull 
Album? Recently introduced to a brief listen to Porcupine Tree.. any opinions 
of them? What is this I hear about marillion not touring in the US and some 
guy somewhere collecting donations for them to tour here?? is this a reality 
or a scam??? Inquiring minds want to know!
--- MacWoof 1.5.3; just keeps going and ...
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