The Jargon File -- an apologia

[Eric S. Raymond]

In <19116 at rpp386.cactus.org> John F Haugh II wrote:
> You cleverly ignored the complaint which I found the most support
> for - VOLUME.  I don't care if you make all the money in the world
> (leave some for me, please), but you are reposting a very large
> document to groups that don't want it.  There are better ways, such
> as context diffs or pointers to an anonymous FTP or UUCP site.

The Jargon File takes up 1755 disk blocks.  Scannining my news tree for
groups with a 1-day expiration time, I find:

64	/usr/spool/news/alt/sex/bondage
113	/usr/spool/news/alt/sex/pictures/d
1962	/usr/spool/news/alt/sex/pictures
3	/usr/spool/news/alt/sex/masturbation
11	/usr/spool/news/alt/sex/bestiality
77	/usr/spool/news/alt/newsgroup/creators/dork/dork/dork
78	/usr/spool/news/alt/newsgroup/creators/dork/dork
79	/usr/spool/news/alt/newsgroup/creators/dork
80	/usr/spool/news/alt/newsgroup/creators
10	/usr/spool/news/alt/foolish/users
11	/usr/spool/news/alt/foolish
42	/usr/spool/news/alt/angst
8	/usr/spool/news/alt/ensign/wesley/die/die/die
9	/usr/spool/news/alt/ensign/wesley/die/die
10	/usr/spool/news/alt/ensign/wesley/die
11	/usr/spool/news/alt/ensign/wesley
12	/usr/spool/news/alt/ensign
5	/usr/spool/news/alt/sexy/bald/captains
6	/usr/spool/news/alt/sexy/bald
7	/usr/spool/news/alt/sexy
45	/usr/spool/news/alt/skinheads
4	/usr/spool/news/alt/devilbunnies
199	/usr/spool/news/alt/drugs
13	/usr/spool/news/alt/cyberpunk/chatsubo
75	/usr/spool/news/alt/tasteless
13	/usr/spool/news/alt/brother-jed
3	/usr/spool/news/alt/french/captain/borg/borg/borg
4	/usr/spool/news/alt/french/captain/borg/borg
5	/usr/spool/news/alt/french/captain/borg
6	/usr/spool/news/alt/french/captain
7	/usr/spool/news/alt/french

for a grand total of 2972 blocks (and that's before we start on the talk
groups!).  If the net is willing to tolerate *this* cruft every day, a
Jargon File reposting every two weeks is bupkes.
-- 
      Eric S. Raymond = eric at snark.thyrsus.com  (mad mastermind of TMN-Netnews)